Pakistan has formally appointed Field Marshal Asim Munir as its first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), following the 27th Constitutional Amendment that centralises military authority. The move restructures Pakistan’s defence hierarchy and places all three armed services under a single commander.

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• Field Marshal Asim Munir becomes Pakistan’s first CDF
• Appointment approved by President Asif Ali Zardari on 5 Dec 2025
• CDF post created under the 27th Constitutional Amendment
• Role replaces the CJCSC, ending the previous joint command system
• Munir now heads Army, Navy, Air Force while remaining COAS
• Powers expanded: strategic assets, nuclear command, crisis response
• Reform aims at unified command, faster decisions, reduced inter-service friction
• PM Shehbaz initially delayed approval, triggering civil–military tension
• Air Chief Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu granted two-year extension
• Analysts warn: further erosion of civilian oversight and regional implications for India