The General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi recently hosted a prestigious guard of honour ceremony to formally recognize Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, who now holds the dual positions of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
During the ceremony, military contingents from the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force presented a formal guard of honour to the newly appointed CDF. Senior military leaders, including Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu of the Pakistan Air Force and Admiral Naveed Ashraf of the Pakistan Navy, were also present to witness the occasion, along with other high-ranking officers from all three branches of the armed forces.
Field Marshal Munir’s appointment as Chief of Defence Forces was officially confirmed by the Ministry of Defence in December, following approval by President Asif Ali Zardari on the recommendation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Earlier this year, Munir was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal—only the second person in Pakistan’s history to achieve this distinction and the first in over 60 years. His promotion followed Pakistan’s significant victory in the May conflict with India, a milestone that enhanced his standing in the military.
The establishment of the CDF position came after the approval of the Pakistan Army, Air Force, and Navy (Amendment) Bills 2025 by President Zardari on November 15. This was followed by parliamentary approval. The new legislation amends Article 243, which now grants extended powers and responsibilities to any General elevated to the rank of Field Marshal.
As Field Marshal, Munir will continue to serve as the Chief of Army Staff for a five-year term, overseeing coordination among Pakistan’s military branches and contributing to strategic defense planning.
