President approves Field Marshal Asim Munir’s appointment as COAS, CDF

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the summary for the appointment of Field Marshal Asim Munir as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), ARY News reported.

According to the official notification issued by the President’s Secretariat, “President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the summary submitted by the Prime Minister for the appointment of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir NI(M), HJ, Chief of Army Staff, concurrently as Chief of Defence Forces for a period of five years.

He has also approved a two-year extension in the service of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu NI(M), HJ, Chief of Air Staff, to take effect from the completion of his present tenure on 19 March 2026.

The President extended his best wishes to the COAS, concurrently the Chief of Defence Forces and the Chief of Air Staff for their successful tenures.”

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the summary for the appointment of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as both the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the country’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF). The approved summary has been forwarded to the Presidency.

Under the new arrangement, Field Marshal Asim Munir will simultaneously serve as Army Chief and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) for a tenure of five years. His appointment marks the first time Pakistan is formally establishing the post of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).

The prime minister has also approved a two-year extension in the tenure of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu. The extension will take effect after the completion of his current five-year term in March 2026.

Earlier, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar stressed that notification regarding the appointment of Field Marshal Asim Muneer as Chief of Army Staff (CAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) could be issued at any moment.

While talking to the media, Azam Nazeer Tarar stated that there is no ambiguity whatsoever under Article 245, or within any of the Air Force, Army and Naval Acts. It has been written that whoever is the Army Chief will be the CDF.

He noted that under the 2024 amendments, the tenure for service chiefs was extended from three to five years, and the legislation allows re-appointment or partial extension.

‘I am announcing that General Asim Munir is the Chief of Defence Forces’

On December 01, 2025, Federal Minister Hanif Abbasi announced on Monday that General Asim Munir is the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), debunking all the rumours spread by unscrupulous elements on social media.

In an exclusive interview with ARY News, Federal Minister Hanif Abbasi stated, “I am announcing that General Asim Munir is the Chief of Defence Forces. I had also mentioned two days ago that General Asim Munir is a Field Marshal.”

Abbasi further hinted at the formality, saying, “The notification might have been issued. It is our will to announce it whenever we want. The respect that God has bestowed upon Pakistan through the Field Marshal is unparalleled; he shot down Indian aircraft while remaining within our limits, which the world is acknowledging.”