Pakistan Appoints Asim Munir As First Chief Of Defence Forces
Pakistan has appointed General Asim Munir as the country’s first Chief of Defence Forces after the government approved the creation of a new top military post. The decision was confirmed after the Prime Minister sent the summary for approval, and the notification was issued following the President’s assent. The appointment marks a major structural change in Pakistan’s military command.
New Post Replaces Previous System
The position of Chief of Defence Forces has replaced the earlier structure led by the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Under the new framework, the CDF will oversee the army, navy and air force under a single command. Asim Munir will continue simultaneously as Chief of Army Staff, making him the senior-most figure within Pakistan’s armed forces.
Extension For Air Force Chief
Alongside the new appointment, the tenure of Air Chief Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu has been extended for an additional two years. The extension ensures continuity at the top level of the air force as the defence structure transitions to the unified command format. Officials said the new arrangement is intended to improve coordination between the three services and streamline decision-making.
Concerns Raised Over Concentration Of Power
Experts have noted that combining roles gives the Chief of Defence Forces significant authority. While the government has presented the reform as a step toward modernizing Pakistan’s defence structure, some analysts have raised concerns over whether concentrating command in a single office could reduce institutional checks and balances. The coming period will show how the new command system functions in practice, especially during major security challenges.
