President Asif Ali Zardari has formally approved the appointment of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. He will simultaneously serve as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the country’s first-ever Chief of Defence Forces (CDF). The official notification, issued by the President’s Secretariat, confirms a five-year tenure for the dual roles.
The President also sanctioned a two-year extension in the service of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu. This extension will take effect upon the completion of his present term on March 19, 2026. The notification extended the President’s best wishes to both officers for successful tenures.
This approval follows Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s submission of a summary to the Presidency. It formally recommended the appointments. The move marks the first official establishment of the CDF position in Pakistan, creating a unified command structure atop the military’s service branches.
President Asif Ali Zardari approved the appointment of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as COAS concurrently as CDF for 5 years, and a 2-year extension for Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu from 19 March 2026. The President conveyed his best wishes to both. pic.twitter.com/RrIJNCC7I5
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) December 4, 2025Under the new arrangement, Field Marshal Asim Munir will hold both the senior army command and the overarching defence forces leadership for five years. The decision aligns with legislative amendments passed in 2024. These extended the standard tenure for service chiefs from three to five years and provided a legal basis for such appointments and extensions.
Earlier, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar addressed the media, stating there was no legal ambiguity regarding the appointment. He clarified that under the amended laws and relevant service acts, the position of CDF is designated for the serving Army Chief. He emphasized that the legislation permits re-appointment or partial extension of service terms.
The appointment had been anticipated for several days. On December 1, Federal Minister Hanif Abbasi had announced in an interview that General Asim Munir was the CDF. He called it a formalisation of a settled matter and dismissed speculative rumours on social media.
This historic appointment consolidates military leadership under a single, top-tier command for a defined period. It reflects an evolution in Pakistan’s defence organisational hierarchy.
