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Chief of Defence Forces (Pakistan)
Highest-ranking officer of the Pakistan Armed Forces From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) is a statutory office and the highest-ranking military position within the Pakistan Armed Forces, held ex officio by the Chief of the Army Staff. The post was established under the 27th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan, which amended Article 243 to replace the long-standing role of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) with a single, unified command position.[1][2][3]
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The creation of the CDF abolishes the office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and introduces a unified command structure across the armed services.[4][5] Under the new constitutional framework, the CDF is appointed by the President of Pakistan on the advice of the Prime Minister.
The office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) was abolished on 27 November 2025, following the retirement of the last officeholder, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza. The first and incumbent CDF is Asim Munir, serving in this capacity since 4 December 2025.[6]
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History
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The office was created to centralise operational authority of the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force under a single constitutional post. The Twenty-seventh Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan abolished the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) and provided for the establishment of a Chief of Defence Forces.[1][7] Until its abolition on 27 November 2025, the CJCSC functioned as the principal tri-service coordinator.[2]
After the amendment took effect, a formal notification appointing the first CDF was expected before the expiry of Field Marshal Asim Munir's original three-year tenure as Chief of Army Staff on 29 November 2025. The failure to issue the notification by that date created a temporary legal gap regarding the command structure.[8][9]
The delay triggered widespread speculation regarding internal governmental disagreements over the tenure's commencement date, specifically whether the new five-year term should retroactively begin from 2022 or start afresh from November 2025.[8][10] Concurrently, allegations surfaced regarding Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's extended stay in London, suggesting it was a deliberate tactic to delay the signing of the notification, which fueled rumors of civil-military friction.[11][9]
On 30 November 2025, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif dismissed the rumors as "unnecessary and irresponsible speculation". He confirmed that the appointment process had been initiated and stated that the notification would be issued "in due course" following the Prime Minister's return to Pakistan.[12][13] After a five-day delay, the government issued the notification on 5 December 2025, appointing Field Marshal Asim Munir as the first Chief of Defence Forces alongside his position as COAS, resetting his tenure to a new five-year term.[9]
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Role and responsibilities
The CDF will be appointed by the President of Pakistan on the advice of the Prime Minister.[3][14] The CDF will be charged with command of the three service branches, the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, and Pakistan Air Force, as well as oversight of the National Strategic Command.[14] The amendment will also grant the occupant of the post constitutional protections, and consolidates the appointment powers of service chiefs under a unified command structure.[15]
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Appointees
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External links
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