Islamabad | In a major strategic development with far-reaching implications for South Asia, the Shehbaz Sharif government appointed Field Marshal Asim Munir as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) for a five-year term. The newly created post is designed to bring tighter coordination among the Army, Air Force and Navy—but more significantly, it gives Munir direct control over Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal and missile command, effectively making him the most powerful military figure in the country.
A Five-Year Tenure with Unprecedented Authority
According to an official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Asim Munir will serve as CDF until 2030. The appointment is being viewed as a sweeping expansion of his powers, coming just months after he was controversially promoted to Field Marshal—the second instance in Pakistan’s history after General Ayub Khan.
Alongside Munir’s elevation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has granted a two-year service extension to Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar, further reshaping the top tier of Pakistan’s armed forces.
A Law That Makes Munir “Untouchable”
In a move that has triggered fierce political debate, Pakistan’s Parliament recently passed legislation granting lifetime immunity to Asim Munir. Under this law, the Field Marshal cannot be arrested and will remain in uniform for life.
The opposition, particularly Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has strongly criticised the law, arguing that concentrating such immense power in one individual undermines democratic oversight and strengthens Pakistan’s already dominant military establishment.
The new CDF position effectively replaces the now-abolished post of Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.
Munir’s Role in India-Pakistan Tensions
Munir’s rise comes against the backdrop of heightened India–Pakistan friction. During “Operation Sindoor” in May, India had launched a calibrated military action inside Pakistani territory in response to cross-border hostilities. The escalation reportedly forced Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) to seek an urgent ceasefire through back-channel communications with New Delhi.
Despite the circumstances, Asim Munir publicly claimed that Pakistan had “defeated India,” a narrative widely circulated within Pakistan through state-aligned media. Analysts believe this exaggerated claim played a role in the government’s decision to promote him, ensuring his long-term influence over Pakistan’s strategic posture.
Implications for India: A More Unpredictable Military Leadership?
Munir’s control over Pakistan’s nuclear command raises crucial questions for Indian security planners:
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A more assertive nuclear posture: With unchecked authority and lifetime immunity, Munir may adopt more aggressive strategic signalling.
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Civil–military imbalance in Pakistan: A further weakened civilian leadership could mean India has to deal almost exclusively with the military establishment.
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Escalation risks: Munir’s past rhetoric towards India—often confrontational—could heighten tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) and international border.
Security experts in New Delhi note that while Pakistan’s nuclear doctrine remains officially unchanged, consolidating nuclear authority in a single military figure increases the risks of miscalculation or political misuse—especially amid Pakistan’s internal economic and political instability.
A Turning Point in Pakistan’s Power Structure
By placing the nuclear “button” firmly in Asim Munir’s hands and shielding him from legal accountability, Pakistan has fundamentally altered its power hierarchy. The development signals the army’s continued dominance over national policy and raises new strategic challenges for India, which must now navigate a more centralised—and arguably more unpredictable—military leadership across the border.
How this shift shapes India–Pakistan relations in the coming months will be closely watched by global powers, particularly amid evolving geopolitical alignments in Asia.
