Pakistan Appoints Field Marshal Asim Munir as First Chief of Defence Forces Amid High-Stakes Political Negotiations

In a landmark restructuring of Pakistan’s military hierarchy, the Shehbaz Sharif government has approved the appointment of Field Marshal Asim Munir as the country’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF). Munir, who was elevated to the rank of Field Marshal earlier this year, will simultaneously continue serving as Chief of Army Staff (COAS), consolidating command authority at the highest level of Pakistan’s defence establishment.

The decision was confirmed through a notification issued by the President’s Office, following approval from President Asif Ali Zardari on the basis of a summary forwarded by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“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 statement read.

Munir’s appointment marks the first time a Pakistani military leader has been entrusted with both positions simultaneously, introducing a unified command structure intended to streamline strategic decision-making and defence coordination. Sources indicate that the new CDF role carries a five-year tenure, aligning with Munir’s extended term as COAS.

In parallel, the government has approved a two-year extension for Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, effective after the completion of his current five-year term in March 2026.

The appointment, however, was preceded by an unusual delay, attributed to intense negotiations involving former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, PML-N chief organiser Maryam Nawaz, and Asim Munir. According to sources, the PML-N leadership sought political guarantees, institutional assurances, and influence over key future military postings as part of the decision-making process.

Senior party figures told CNN-News18 that Nawaz Sharif views the CDF appointment as integral to his broader political ambitions, including a potential bid for a fourth term as Prime Minister. “If Asim Munir wants a five-year tenure as both COAS and CDF, then he has to assure Nawaz Sharif’s premiership,” a top PML-N source reportedly said.

Sources close to Maryam Nawaz further indicated that she and her father pressed for commitments ensuring that officers aligned with their governance vision would be placed in strategically influential positions.

For the Sharif family, the focus is on securing sustained political stability and maintaining leverage within Pakistan’s powerful military establishment. For Asim Munir, assuming the dual mantle of COAS and the inaugural CDF positions him at the centre of a restructured defence command model that is likely to shape Pakistan’s civil-military dynamics and strategic policies for years to come.