Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will now be officially designated as Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) in addition to his role as Chief of Army Staff (COAS), effective today, The News reported on Friday.
PM Sharif arrives in London for another well-deserved holiday. Seems fitting that he would appoint Lt Gen (Retd) Asim Munir as Chief of Defence Staff from the same city where the plan to install him as COAS was cooked up. Great to know that 78 years on, decisions about Pakistan… pic.twitter.com/z3xzh1LodF
— Waqas (@worqas) November 27, 2025
This change will be reflected in all official documents, military references, and media reports, recognizing the unified office of CDF and COAS. The development follows President Asif Ali Zardari’s approval of the Pakistan Army, Air Force, and Navy Amendment Bills 2025 on November 15, after being passed by parliament.
According to the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, the COAS will simultaneously serve as CDF for a five-year term, with Field Marshal Munir’s tenure restarting from the issuance date of the new notification.
Provisions under Article 243 that apply to a Field Marshal will also extend to a General elevated to that rank. The federal government may empower the vice or deputy chief of army staff to exercise the COAS’s authority through written orders issued on the CDF’s recommendation.
The legislation also clarifies that the tenure of the serving COAS will restart from the date of the first notification issued for the dual office.
The federal government will define the roles and responsibilities of the CDF, which will include multi-domain integration, restructuring, and enhancing joint coordination among the armed forces.
A key structural reform within the bill is the termination of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) post, which will be replaced by the Commander of the National Strategic Command.
The prime minister may appoint the commander from serving Pakistan Army generals for a three-year term, based on the COAS/CDF’s recommendation.
Additionally, the position of CJCSC has officially ceased to exist under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, with General (retd) Sahir Shamshad Mirza retiring Wednesday as the country’s final CJCSC.