Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir said on Thursday that Pakistan is moving in a positive direction and “will soar to greater heights from here.” He made the remarks during an informal conversation with journalists at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad.
His comments came shortly after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved and forwarded a summary to President Asif Ali Zardari recommending Field Marshal Munir’s appointment as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF). According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Munir will now serve simultaneously as COAS and CDF for a five-year term.
President Zardari later approved the summary, formally establishing the new role under the recently passed defence amendments. The restructuring marks one of the most significant shifts in Pakistan’s military command in decades.
The prime minister also approved a two-year extension for Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, which will begin after his current tenure ends in March 2026.
Earlier in the day, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told reporters that the notification for the CDF appointment was imminent, saying the process was underway and urging the public not to indulge in speculation. “There’s no political disconnect on this,” he added.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah also said the new CDF position would become an extremely important institution for national security. He noted that regulations for the post still need to be drafted and that the government must exercise caution when framing such rules.
Sanaullah dismissed all talk of delays and said linking the notification to any political issue was inappropriate. Similar statements were issued by senior government figures, including Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who said that establishing a new system “cannot be done by pressing a button.”
Dr Tauqir Shah, a close aide to the prime minister, also rejected speculation of civil–military tensions, calling such claims “baseless” and “misleading.”
Field Marshal Munir’s elevation to the dual role marks a major milestone in Pakistan’s defence structure. The government says the new system is aimed at strengthening coordination among the armed services and modernising military leadership for emerging security challenges.
