ISLAMABAD (MNN); President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday approved the summary appointing Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF). The Presidency also confirmed that he signed off on the two-year extension for Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, extending his good wishes to both officers.
The newly created CDF role, introduced under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, replaces the now-abolished position of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, which formally ceased to exist on November 27. The CDF will hold a dual role, combining responsibilities of the army chief and the top defence coordinator.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had forwarded the summary recommending Field Marshal Munir’s appointment. According to the PM Office, the prime minister approved his appointment “as chief of the army staff and chief of defence forces” for a five-year term before sending the summary to the Presidency.
PM Shehbaz also approved a two-year extension for Air Chief Marshal Sidhu, which will commence after the completion of his current five-year term in March 2026. Sidhu was earlier appointed in March 2021 and given a one-year extension in 2024.
Officials had initially expected the appointment notification to be issued alongside the abolition of the CJCSC post on November 27. However, delays emerged, with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif urging the public not to speculate. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar later clarified that the notification would be issued soon, attributing the delay to the prime minister’s foreign travel and required coordination between the PMO and defence ministry.
Future Defence Structure Changes Ahead
The fast-tracked 27th Amendment has brought significant restructuring to the higher-defence framework. Yet the delay in notifications has slowed what was expected to be a smooth transition.
One major pending decision is the appointment of the commander of the new National Strategic Command (NSC), a four-star post created to oversee Pakistan’s nuclear management — a responsibility formerly held by the CJCSC. Officials say this appointment will be made only after the CDF notification is fully executed.
Under the amended Article 243, the NSC commander will be appointed by the prime minister on the recommendation of the COAS, who will simultaneously serve as chief of defence forces.
Meanwhile, amendments are still required in the National Command Authority Act to align it with the new defence structure, particularly regarding whether the chiefs of the air force and navy will retain representation in the NCA after their strategic roles shift under a unified NSC commander.
