The Ministry of Defence has formally announced the appointment of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as Pakistan’s inaugural Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), a move that consolidates significant military authority by allowing him to hold the new position concurrently with his role as Chief of Army Staff for a fresh five-year term.

The new designation was established under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which created the CDF position to replace the now-abolished office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC). The CJCSC role was officially terminated on November 27.

A key provision within the legislation specifies that the issuance of the dual-office notification effectively resets the incumbent COAS’s tenure, commencing a new five-year service period from the date of the announcement.

In a related development, the Defence Ministry also officially notified a two-year extension in the tenure of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, who serves as the Chief of Air Staff.

President Zardari had previously approved the extension for the air chief. This extension will commence after the completion of his present five-year term in March 2026, ensuring leadership continuity within the Pakistan Air Force.