ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif approved the appointment of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as the Chief of Army Staff and the country’s first-ever Chief of the Defence Forces. The summary for the appointment has been forwarded to the Presidency for final approval.
Field Marshal Munir will hold both key positions simultaneously for a tenure of five years, marking a historic milestone in Pakistan’s military hierarchy.
PM Sharif also approved a two-year extension in the service tenure of Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu. This extension will commence after the completion of his current five-year term in March 2026.
These appointments come at a critical time for Pakistan’s armed forces, underscoring continuity and strengthened leadership across the military’s top echelons.
General Munir’s appointment to top role recognizes his pivotal role in leading strategic operations that safeguarded Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity during times of heightened national threats. His leadership, intelligence coordination, and operational acumen were credited with neutralizing adversaries and restoring regional stability.
A distinguished military leader, General Munir took charge as Chief of Army Staff in late 2022. He began his career at the Officers Training School in Mangla, earning the prestigious Sword of Honour, and was commissioned into the 23rd Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment. Rising steadily through key command roles, he led troops in the strategically significant Northern Areas as a brigadier under General Bajwa’s X Corps.
His expertisAll Postse in intelligence operations is widely recognized. General Munir served as Director General of Military Intelligence and later as Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in October 2018. He subsequently commanded Gujranwala Corps and returned to General Headquarters as Quartermaster General.
A recipient of the Hilal-i-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan’s highest military honors, General Munir is also the first army chief in the country to have memorized the entire Quran, earning the distinction of Hafiz-e-Quran.
This historic dual appointment marks a new chapter in Pakistan’s military leadership, ensuring continuity, stability, and strategic direction at the highest levels of the armed forces.
