ISLAMABAD (TNS) Field Marshal Asim Munir’s appointment as Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces has been approved. According to a statement issued by the President’s Office, President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the appointment of Field Marshal Asim Munir as Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces. This evening, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had sent a summary regarding the appointment of Field Marshal Asim Munir to the President’s Office. Field Marshal Asim Munir has been appointed as the Chief of Army Staff and the country’s first Chief of Defense Forces. The tenure of both these positions will be five years. In addition, President Zardari has also approved a summary of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s two-year extension in the tenure of Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu. This extension will be applicable on the completion of his current five-year tenure in March 2026.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had sent the summary of the appointment of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces to the Presidency after approval. Field Marshal Asim Munir will be the Chief of Army Staff as well as the Chief of Defence Forces. The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) is going to be a sensitive and very important institution in terms of national security. Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu has also been approved for a two-year extension in his tenure. This extension will be effective upon completion of his current 5-year tenure in March 2026. Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) is the Chief of the Armed Forces of Pakistan and leads the three services (Army, Navy, and Air Force). The responsibilities of the Chief of Defence Forces are:
Leadership of the three services: The Chief of Defence Forces leads the three services and is responsible for their development and improvement.
Pakistan’s Defense Policy: The Chief of Defense Forces plays a key role in formulating Pakistan’s defense policy.
Advice to the Prime Minister and the President: The Chief of Defense Forces advises the Prime Minister and the President on defense matters.
Supervision of military operations: The Chief of Defense Forces supervises military operations and takes responsibility for their strategy. International Relations: The Chief of Defense Forces helps maintain and enhance Pakistan’s military relations internationally. Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar says that the Pakistan Army Act states that the Army Chief will be the Chief of Defense Forces; it is clearly written that the President will re-appoint him on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Army Chief is to be appointed to the post of Chief of Defense Forces simultaneously; there is no legal ambiguity in the notification. Don’t worry, the notification is in the process; it will come at any time. A storm is being created in a teacup. Field Marshal Asim Munir was born in Rawalpindi in 1968. He is a Pakistani military officer who has served as the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan since November 2022. An intelligence veteran, Director General of Military Intelligence and the country’s top intelligence agency, Inter-Services He has also served as the Director General of Intelligence. In May 2025, he was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal, the country’s highest military rank, while serving as the Army Chief.
He is the second person in Pakistan’s history to hold the position after Muhammad Ayub Khan in 1959. It may be recalled that in November 2025, the Parliament of Pakistan passed the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which appointed Field Marshal Asim Munir as the newly created Chief of Defence Forces, allowing him to oversee all branches of the armed forces, such as the Air Force and the Navy. This amendment also allows him to retain the privileges associated with the rank of Field Marshal for an indefinite period. Field Marshal Asim Munir’s date and place of birth are 1968, Rawalpindi. Field Marshal Asim Munir’s father was a school teacher and a scholar.
In 1986, Field Marshal Asim Munir graduated from the Officers Training School in Mangla, Pakistan, where he was awarded the Sword of Honor for being the top cadet.
He was later commissioned into the Pakistan Army and posted to the Frontier Force Regiment, an infantry unit. He received a master’s degree from the National Defense University, Islamabad, and completed courses at military institutions in Japan and Malaysia. Field Marshal Asim Munir served as a military attaché in Saudi Arabia at one point in his career, during which he memorized the Quran, which is a sign of immense spiritual achievement. After many years of service and holding various leadership positions in the army, Asim Munir became the Director General of MI in 2017. In October 2018, he was appointed Director General of ISI. In November 2022, the Pakistani government appointed Asim Munir as the country’s Chief of Army Staff, the most influential position in Pakistan. Focusing on countering internal and external security threats, his approach is one of strong defense diplomacy.
Field Marshal Asim Munir has reiterated Pakistan’s traditional stance on Kashmir, supporting the right of self-determination of the people of the region. He has expressed his determination that Kashmir will one day become a part of Pakistan and has called Kashmir the “jugular vein” of Pakistan. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in April 2025, with India accusing Pakistan of facilitating the attack. Pakistan rejected the allegations. As tensions between the two countries escalated, Field Marshal Asim Munir warned that Pakistan would respond immediately to any Indian military action. On May 7, 2025, India launched several missile attacks on Pakistan. This resulted in an agreement on a ceasefire. Field Marshal Asim Munir, speaking informally to journalists at the Presidential Palace, said that Pakistan will fly higher from here. Field Marshal Asim Munir said that everything is fine, everything is in front of you, things are going for the better, Pakistan will fly higher from here.
It may be recalled that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has sent the summary approval of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir’s appointment as Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces to the Presidency. According to analysts, after the latest amendment to the Pakistani constitution, Field Marshal Asim Munir has emerged as the most powerful military leader in Pakistan. The constitutional amendment has not only increased his powers immensely but has also provided him with a lifetime post and complete legal immunity. Under the approved constitutional amendment, the three armed forces – Army, Navy, and Air Force – have been brought under a new post, “Chief of Defense Forces”, which is now in the hands of Field Marshal Asim Munir. Under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, he has also been granted immunity from criminal proceedings for life, which critics are calling an extraordinary and unlimited delegation of powers. Shahbaz Sharif’s government entrusted him with the leadership of the army. He was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal after a four-day clash with India in May. Presenting the 27th Constitutional Amendment, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said in Parliament, “We have achieved a historic victory, and the entire nation has appreciated the leadership of General Asim Munir.” He said, “India had challenged the sovereignty of our land. At that time, the entire nation stood with the Pakistani forces. As Chief of Defence Forces, Asim Munir will have the authority to make major changes in the military command structure and modernize the forces. The honor of Field Marshal for life is in accordance with British tradition: “Field Marshals do not retire, they only leave their post, but the honor remains.” According to a report by the Center for Research and Security Studies, at least 3,187 people were killed and 1,981 injured in Pakistan during the first eleven months of 2025, including civilians, security personnel, and militants. The number of deaths in violent incidents in 2024 was 2,546. According to the report, this loss of life was the result of 1,188 violent incidents, including terrorist attacks and counter-terrorism operations. Most of the violence occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which accounted for 92 percent of attacks and 96 percent of deaths from January to November 2025. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the worst-affected province, accounting for 68 percent (2,165) of the deaths and 62 percent (732) of the violent incidents. Balochistan came in second with 28 percent (896) of the deaths and 30 percent (366) of the violent incidents. A total of 90 incidents occurred in Sindh, Punjab, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Islamabad Capital Territory, resulting in 126 deaths, or four percent of the total deaths. Violent incidents have increased significantly this year compared to last year. The 3,187 deaths recorded in the first 11 months of this year are 25 percent more than the total deaths in the entire year of 2024. On average, about 15 people were killed per day during this period. Security forces have been particularly effective in the first 11 months of 2025, killing 1,795 militants. The report said that deaths in security operations (1,370) were 72 percent higher than deaths in terrorist attacks (795), indicating that large-scale and aggressive counter-terrorism operations in the province were the main cause of deaths. The situation in Balochistan is the opposite. There, terrorist attacks killed 517 people, including security personnel and civilians, which is 36 percent more than the 379 deaths in security forces’ operations. This shows that militant groups in the province continue to maintain a more aggressive approach and pose a constant and serious challenge to the security forces. This difference highlights the fact that while the aggressive counter-terrorism trend appears to be prevailing at the national level, the situation in Balochistan is particularly volatile, where militant attacks are causing more casualties. Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have met President Asif Zardari. Dinner in honor of the President of Kyrgyzstan. Field Marshal Asim Munir, while talking to reporters informally at the President’s Office, said that everything is fine, everything is in front of you. The Field Marshal further said that things are going for the better, Pakistan will now fly higher from here.
The term of the Army Chief has already been extended till 2027 as a result of the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
The draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment proposes a major change in the military structure. It is proposed to abolish the post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and give the post of “Chief of Defense Forces” to the Army Chief. Under the constitutional amendment, Field Marshal and other high military positions will get life status. The post of Chief of Defence Forces and the post of Army Chief will run together, and under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, these two posts will run together till 2030. Key points of the Army Act Amendment Bill passed by the National Assembly
Under the amendment to Section 176C, the Vice Chief of Army Staff, Deputy Chief of Army Staff will be appointed on the recommendation of the Chief of Defence Forces, the federal government will make the appointment on the recommendation of the Chief of Defence Forces.
The text of the bill states that the Vice Army Chief will exercise his powers and duties in the light of the directions of the Army Chief, the word government will be changed in Section B, and the appointment will be made on the recommendation of the Army Chief.
Clause 8G has also been amended to deem the post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee to be terminated from November 27, 2025. The Prime Minister will appoint the Commander of National Strategic Command for a period of 3 years on the recommendation of the Army Chief, the Chief of Defence Forces.
The Prime Minister will determine the terms and conditions of the Commander National Strategic Command. The Commander National Strategic Command can also be reappointed for another 3 years. The Prime Minister can be reappointed for another 3 years on the recommendation of the Chief of Defence Forces.
The appointment, re-appointment, or extension of the Commander National Strategic Command cannot be challenged in any court. The retirement age, service period, and removal in the Army Act will not apply to the Commander National Strategic Command. The Commander National Strategic Command will serve in the Pakistan Army as a General.
The term of the Chief of Defence Forces will start from the day on which the notification is made, and the Army Chief will be the Chief of Defence Forces. If the General is promoted to the rank of Field Marshal, he will serve under Sub-section Two.
The Federal Government will determine the duties and responsibilities of the Army Chief (Chief of Defence Forces). The Federal Government will not be able to limit its duties and responsibilities in multi-domain areas. The government has decided to amend Article 243 of the Constitution. In the amendment approved by the cabinet, the Army Chief will be the Chief of Defense Forces, while the posts of Field Marshal and Marshal of the Air Force will remain for life. In the constitutional amendment, the heads of the three armed forces will be appointed on the advice of the President and the Prime Minister, while the President will also appoint the Chief of Army Staff as the Chief of Defense Forces at the same time, while the appointment of the Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Air Staff will be made on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. It has been said that the post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee will be abolished from November 27, 2025, and the Prime Minister will appoint the Commander of the National Strategic Command on the recommendation of the Chief of Defense Forces. The federal government will have the authority to promote an officer to the rank of Field Marshal, Marshal of the Air Force, or Admiral of the Fleet, and officers holding these posts will be provided with uniforms and privileges for life. High-ranking officers will be declared national heroes and can only be removed under Article 47. The immunity granted to the President under Article 248 will also apply to these military positions, while the federal government will determine the responsibilities and privileges of these positions according to the state’s interest. According to Rana Sanaullah, now there is no retirement age for the Army Chief in the constitution, the CDF term is 5 years, and re-appointment can be made even after 5 years. According to details, regarding the appointment of the Chief of Defense Forces, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Senator Rana Sanaullah, while talking to Samaa News, said that the rules were to be made, they had to be approved, then the stage of completion of the notification had to come, now there is no retirement age for the Army Chief in the constitution, the CDF term is 5 years, and re-appointment can be made even after 5 years.
On the other hand, after the Prime Minister approved the appointment of Field Marshal Asim Munir as Chief of Defense Forces, an important conversation of the Field Marshal has come to light. Speaking informally to journalists at the Presidential Palace, Field Marshal Asim Munir said that everything is fine, everything is in front of you, Pakistan will now fly high from here. It should be noted that the most important progress has been made regarding the appointment of the country’s first Chief of Defense Forces.
The summary of the appointment of the country’s first Chief of Defense Forces has been officially approved. According to media reports, on Thursday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent the summary of the appointment of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces to the Presidential Palace after approval. According to the summary approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Asim Munir will be the Chief of Army Staff as well as the Chief of Defense Forces.
The appointment of Field Marshal Asim Munir as Chief of Defense Forces is for 5 years. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will be the country’s first Chief of Defense Forces. Along with the appointment of the Chief of Defence Forces, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also approved the summary of the extension of the tenure of the Chief of the Pakistan Air Force. The Prime Minister has also approved a two-year extension in the tenure of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu. This extension will be effective upon the completion of his current five-year tenure in March 2026, thus Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu will remain in office till 2028. Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has congratulated Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, on his appointment as the country’s first Chief of Defence Forces. He expressed his best wishes to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for this important national responsibility and said that his appointment is a testament to his outstanding professional skills and leadership capabilities. Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that the appointment of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as the Chief of Defense Forces is very welcome, and under his leadership, the harmony between the land, naval, and air forces of Pakistan will be further strengthened. He said that the nation is proud of the courage and bravery of Field Marshal, Chief of Defense Forces, Syed Asim Munir. On this occasion, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also paid tribute to the courageous decisions of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir during the Indian aggression. He said that under the leadership of the Chief of Defense Forces, the Pakistani forces gave a befitting reply to the Indian attacks and raised the prestige of Pakistan at the regional and global levels. The Speaker further said that the armed forces have also taken very effective steps under his leadership to eradicate the scourge of terrorism.
The Speaker of the National Assembly expressed the hope that the appointment of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will prove to be auspicious for the country and will play an important role in strengthening the defense of Pakistan.
Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also congratulated the Chief of the Pakistan Air Force, Air Chief Zaheer Babar Sidhu, on the extension of his tenure. He said that under the leadership of Air Chief Zaheer Babar Sidhu, the Pakistan Air Force gave a befitting reply to Indian aggression, and the world recognizes his professional skills. The Speaker also expressed his best wishes for Air Chief Zaheer Babar Sidhu and hoped that he would further strengthen the country’s defense air power with the same passion and ability. Asim Munir has called on the Taliban government in Afghanistan to take action against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group. Tensions between the two neighbors escalated in March 2024 when several militant groups, including the TTP, launched a series of terrorist attacks on infrastructure along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, killing several Chinese citizens. In December, the TTP claimed responsibility for an attack on a Pakistani military post in northwest Pakistan near the country’s border with Afghanistan. The Pakistani military responded by carrying out airstrikes against militant groups in Afghanistan. In January 2025, Asim Munir asserted that the TTP’s presence in Afghanistan was a major obstacle to relations between the two countries and called on the Taliban to “end the spread of terrorism from across the border into Pakistan.” Tensions reached a peak in October when the militants attacked Pakistan, leading to clashes between the two countries. The Taliban denied allegations of allowing the TTP safe havens.
