Field Marshal Munir honoured with guard of honour as country’s first CDF

RAWALPINDI: A guard of honour ceremony was held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Monday to honour Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.

Contingents from the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, and Pakistan Air Force presented the guard of honour to the newly appointed CDF. The ceremony was attended by Pakistan Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, and senior officers representing all three services.

The Ministry of Defence had issued the official notification for Field Marshal Asim Munir’s appointment as Chief of Defence Forces on Friday. The notification followed President Asif Ali Zardari’s approval, given a day earlier on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Under the new structure, the CDF — who was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal earlier this year — will concurrently serve as Chief of Army Staff for a five-year tenure. His promotion made him Pakistan’s second Field Marshal and the first in over sixty years, following the country’s decisive victory over India in the May war.

The creation of the CDF position came after President Zardari approved the Pakistan Army, Air Force, and Navy (Amendment) Bills 2025 on November 15. According to the amended provisions, Article 243 — which outlines the powers and responsibilities of a Field Marshal — will apply to any General elevated to the rank.

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Profile of the CDF

Field Marshal Asim Munir was commissioned into the 23rd Frontier Force Regiment in 1986, graduating with the 17th Officers Training Course at Mangla. Over his career, he has held several critical military appointments, including directing staff at the Command and Staff College Quetta, brigade major of an infantry brigade in Kel, general staff officer (GSO-2) at the CGS Secretariat, and chief of staff of Mangla Corps. He also served as Quartermaster General at GHQ.

He has commanded the 23rd Frontier Force Regiment, an infantry brigade, and served as Force Commander in the Northern Areas, Gilgit. His intelligence appointments include Director General Military Intelligence (MI) and Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). After heading ISI, he was posted as Corps Commander Gujranwala before returning as Quartermaster General — his final role before becoming COAS.

Field Marshal Munir is a graduate of Fuji School, Japan; Command and Staff College, Quetta; Malaysian Armed Forces College, Kuala Lumpur; and the National Defence University, Islamabad. He also holds an MPhil in Public Policy and Strategic Security Management from NDU. He is the first army chief in Pakistan’s history to be awarded the Sword of Honour.