Daijiworld Media Network - Islamabad

Islamabad, Dec 5: In a significant development aimed at reshaping Pakistan’s military hierarchy, President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the appointment of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as the nation’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) for a period of five years. The approval was granted based on the recommendation sent by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The President’s Office confirmed the decision through an official post on X, stating that Munir will continue to serve as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) while simultaneously taking charge as the country’s first CDF. This historic move comes weeks after the formation of the new post under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, intended to centralize Pakistan’s top military leadership under a unified command.

The appointment comes amid intense political and institutional speculation as Munir’s original three-year term as Army Chief ended on November 29. Reports suggested that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif delayed issuing the notification, raising questions on whether the government was hesitant to extend greater authority to the already influential military chief.

Munir, who earlier this year became only the second military leader in Pakistan’s history to be elevated to the prestigious rank of Field Marshal—after General Ayub Khan—will now hold unmatched strategic command including oversight of Pakistan’s nuclear forces.

Meanwhile, President Zardari has also sanctioned a two-year service extension for Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, effective from March 19, 2026, further consolidating continuity in the upper ranks of the armed forces. The President conveyed his best wishes to the officers entrusted with key responsibilities.

Earlier, Tilak Devasher, former member of India’s National Security Advisory Board, had commented on the delay in the official notification, alleging that PM Sharif had “strategically distanced himself” to avoid repercussions of endorsing such concentrated military power.

With the power transition now formalized, Pakistan enters a new phase of defence management under a single supreme military authority—signaling a major transformation in civil-military dynamics within the country.