A formal guard of honour ceremony was held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Monday. The event honoured Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir upon his official appointment as the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
Contingents from all three services—the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, and Pakistan Air Force—presented the honour. Senior military leadership attended, including PAF Chief ACM Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf.
The Ministry of Defence issued the official notification for Munir’s appointment as CDF on Friday. This followed approval from President Asif Ali Zardari on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Field Marshal Munir, promoted to that rank earlier this year, will concurrently serve as Chief of Army Staff for five years. His elevation to Field Marshal followed Pakistan’s resounding victory over India in the May 2025 war.
Guard of Honour at GHQ Rawalpindi today for Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI(M), HJ, Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces. Tri-services contingent in attendance with senior military leadership. pic.twitter.com/MBBF4vFs3J
— سید عاقب علی شاہ (@IAMAqibShah) December 8, 2025The CDF position was created after President Zardari assented to the Pakistan Army, Air Force, and Navy (Amendment) Bills 2025 on November 15. Under the amended law, the powers of Article 243 now apply to any General promoted to Field Marshal.
Read: Asim Munir Appointed Army Chief & Chief of Defence Forces
Field Marshal and CDF Asim Munir has a distinguished service record spanning nearly four decades. He was commissioned into the 23rd Frontier Force Regiment in 1986.
- Commanded the 23rd Frontier Force Regiment and an infantry brigade.
- Served as Force Commander in the Northern Areas, Gilgit.
- Held top intelligence posts as DG Military Intelligence (MI) and Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
- Served as Corps Commander, Gujranwala, and Quartermaster General at GHQ.
Academic Credentials:
- Graduate of Fuji School (Japan), Command and Staff College Quetta, Malaysian Armed Forces College, and National Defence University (NDU).
- Holds an MPhil in Public Policy and Strategic Security Management from NDU.
- He is the first army chief to receive the Sword of Honour.
