A grand guard of honour ceremony was held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Monday to formally honour Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, who serves as both the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
During the ceremony, contingents from the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force presented the CDF with the prestigious guard of honour. Senior military officials attended the event, including Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Force, and Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Chief of the Naval Staff. Officers from all three services were also present to witness the occasion.
The Ministry of Defence issued the official notification for Field Marshal Munir’s appointment as CDF on Friday. This came a day after President Asif Ali Zardari approved the appointment, following advice from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Field Marshal Munir, promoted earlier this year, will concurrently serve as COAS for the next five years. His elevation to Field Marshal marks Pakistan’s second-ever appointment to this rank and the first in more than six decades. The promotion followed Pakistan’s decisive victory over India during the May conflict.
The creation of the CDF position aligns with the President’s approval of the Pakistan Army, Air Force, and Navy (Amendment) Bills 2025. The amended provisions extend Article 243, which governs the powers of a Field Marshal, to any General promoted to this rank.
Profile of Field Marshal and CDF Syed Asim Munir
Commissioned in 1986 into the 23rd Frontier Force Regiment, Field Marshal Munir completed the 17th Officers Training Course at Mangla. Over the years, he has held several critical military positions, including:
-
Directing staff at Command and Staff College, Quetta
-
Brigade Major of a deployed infantry brigade in Kel
-
General Staff Officer Grade-2 at the CGS Secretariat
-
Chief of Staff at Mangla Corps
-
Quartermaster General at GHQ
He has commanded the 23rd Frontier Force Regiment and an infantry brigade, and also served as force commander in the Northern Areas, Gilgit. Notably, he has held top intelligence roles, including Director General of Military Intelligence (MI) and Chief of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Before assuming the role of army chief, he served as Corps Commander Gujranwala and then as Quartermaster General.
Education and Distinctions
Field Marshal Munir is an alumnus of Fuji School in Japan, Command and Staff College Quetta, Malaysian Armed Forces College, and National Defence University, Islamabad. He holds an MPhil in Public Policy and Strategic Security Management from the National Defence University. Munir is the first army chief in Pakistan to receive the Sword of Honour, highlighting his distinguished military career.
This historic appointment and ceremonial recognition signify a pivotal moment for Pakistan’s defence leadership, reflecting both national pride and strategic strength.
