Pakistan set to rise further,Asim Munir;CDF

Islamabad-(Mudassar Iqbal)-Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir said on Thursday that Pakistan is now on a trajectory toward greater progress and stability.

“Everything is fine — it’s all before you. The situation is improving, and Pakistan will continue to rise from this point onward,” he remarked during an informal chat with journalists at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad.

His comments came shortly after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent a summary to President Asif Ali Zardari, proposing Munir’s appointment as the country’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).

The prime minister today approved the summary for the appointment of Field Marshal Munir “as the chief of army staff and the chief of defence forces”, and then referred it to the President House, said a press release by the PM Office .

Field Marshal Munir’s appointment for both roles is for a period of five years, the statement said.

PM Shehbaz also approved a two-year extension in the tenure of Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, which will take effect upon the completion of his current five-year tenure in March 2026, the PMO added.

Earlier in the day, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the notification for Pakistan’s first CDF appointment would be issued “at any moment”, stressing that it was already in process.

“It is in process and at the moment, the notification or whatever necessary steps will be in front of you soon. I want to urge that there should be no speculations over it and there’s no political disconnect on this,” the minister told reporters in Islamabad.

Moreover, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, while speaking to Geo News today, said that the CDF is going to become an extremely important institution in terms of national security. He noted that the law was amended for the post of Chief of Defence Forces.

The prime minister’s adviser said that regulations and rules for the CDF are yet to be framed and that great caution is required for the CDF’s rules.

Sanaullah said that speculation regarding delays in the CDF notification is baseless. He said that linking the CDF notification with anything is not appropriate.

Asim Munir likely to receive CDF appointment soon

While rumours persist regarding the CDF’s notification, Dr Tauqir Shah, a close aide to the prime minister, categorically rejected speculation about alleged cracks between the civil and military leadership, calling such claims “baseless” and “misleading”.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had also rebuffed widespread speculation regarding the delay in issuance of the notification, saying that creation of a new system cannot be done simply by “pressing a button”.

Similarly, last week, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had also dismissed speculation about a notification for the appointment of the CDF, saying the announcement will be made in due time.

While,

The federal government on Thursday appointed Field Marshal Asim Munir as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).

The top army official — who was promoted to the Field Marshal rank earlier this year — will simultaneously hold the office of Chief of Army Staff, according to a notification issued from the President’s Office.President Asif Ali Zardari approved Field Marshal Munir’s appointment as the CDF following a summary sent earlier in the day by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

he unification of the two key military titles follows President Zardari’s assent on November 15 to the Pakistan Army, Air Force, and Navy (Amendment) Bills 2025, after their approval by parliament.

Under the amended provisions, Article 243, which governs the powers and responsibilities of a Field Marshal, will also apply to any General promoted to the rank.

The federal government may authorise the Vice Chief of Army Staff or Deputy Chief of Army Staff to exercise the powers of the COAS under written orders issued on the recommendation of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).

The legislation further stipulates that once the first notification for the dual office of COAS and CDF is issued, the incumbent COAS’ tenure will be considered to have recommenced from the date of that notification.

The federal government will determine the specific duties and responsibilities of the CDF, which will include multi-domain integration, restructuring, and ensuring jointness across the armed forces.

A significant structural change introduced under the amendment is the abolition of the post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), which will now be replaced by the Commander of the National Strategic Command. The Prime Minister may appoint the Commander from among serving Pakistan Army generals for a three-year term, based on the recommendation of the COAS/CDF.

With the 27th Constitutional Amendment, the post of CJCSC had officially ceased to exist, and General (retd) Sahir Shamshad Mirza retired as the country’s last occupant of the position.

Field Marshal Munir, Pakistan’s new CDF, was commissioned in the 23rd Frontier Force Regiment in 1986. He passed out with the 17th Officers Training Course at Mangla and was awarded the coveted Sword of Honour.