The (Raja Khawar) Pakistani government has officially extended the service of Army Chief Asim Munir, resetting and enlarging his tenure under sweeping constitutional and military-command reforms.
Under the newly ratified 27th Constitutional Amendment, Asim Munir now concurrently holds the roles of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the newly created post of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), giving him formal command over the Army, Navy, and Air Force. He is now expected to remain the country’s top military commander until at least November 2030.
Moreover, the amendment abolishes the post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), replacing it with the unified CDF role centralising control over Pakistan’s three armed services. The reforms also stipulate that the CDF position carries a five-year term, with the possibility of further extension.
The changes have sparked widespread debate, with supporters arguing they bring stability and cohesion to the military leadership, while critics warn they represent a dangerous concentration of power in one individual with significant implications for civil-military relations in Pakistan.
