Pakistan elevates Asim Munir as first Chief of Defence Forces in major power shift

New Delhi,UPDATED: Dec 5, 2025 01:06 IST

In a major restructuring of Pakistan’s defence command, the Shehbaz Sharif government has approved Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as the country’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), a move that hands unprecedented power to the sitting army chief and formally centralises the country’s military authority under one uniform for the next five years.

A notification issued by President Asif Ali Zardari confirmed that Munir will continue as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) while taking charge of the newly created CDF office.

“President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the summary submitted by the Prime Minister for the appointment of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir NI(M), HJ, Chief of Army Staff, concurrently as Chief of Defence Forces for a period of five years,” the President’s Office said.

Munir, who was elevated to the rare rank of Field Marshal earlier this year, now becomes the first military officer in Pakistan’s history to hold both posts at once, a merger that dramatically strengthens the influence of Pakistan’s already powerful army in defence operations, policy, and institutional structuring.

POLITICAL DEAL BEHIND THE DELAY

Officials say the decision followed weeks of political bargaining, as the notification was repeatedly stalled amid internal negotiations between the military leadership and ruling party heavyweight Nawaz Sharif, with Maryam Nawaz also playing a key role in the discussions.

Sources claim that the Pakistan Muslim League–N (PML-N) leadership pressed for assurances over future governance, including influence in high-level defence appointments and a political path that would secure Nawaz Sharif’s potential fourth term as Prime Minister.

As one senior party figure put it: “If Asim Munir wants a five-year tenure as both COAS and CDF, then he has to assure Nawaz Sharif’s premiership.”

WIDER MILITARY CONSOLIDATION

Alongside Munir’s expanded mandate, President Zardari has approved a two-year extension for Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, effective after his current term concludes in March 2026. Together, the dual command and the extended Air Force leadership signal a broad consolidation of the top military echelon rather than a fresh institutional reset.

CRITICS SOUND ALARM

While the government has portrayed the new CDF role as a structural reform, political observers warn that it further entrenches military dominance in a state where civilian authority has long been overshadowed by generals.

Instead of stepping back from political involvement, analysts say Pakistan has locked its defence architecture into the hands of one man — for the foreseeable future.

- Ends

Tune In