The Asim Munir — now holding the rank of Field Marshal — has been approved by Shehbaz Sharif for appointment as the first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of Pakistan, in addition to continuing as Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
The appointment summary has been forwarded to the Presidency for final approval. Under this arrangement, Asim Munir will hold both top military positions — COAS and CDF — for a five-year term.
Simultaneously, the government approved a two-year extension for Chief of Air Staff Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, extending his term beyond March 2026.