RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – A Guard of Honour ceremony was held in honour of Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s first-ever Chief of Defence Forces, at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Monday.
Field Marshal Asim Munir, recipient of the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) and Hilal-e-Jurat, was presented with the Guard of Honour by troops from the army, navy, and air force.
The event marked his appointment as the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), a historic milestone. Senior military officials, including Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf and Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, also attended the ceremony. Field Marshal Asim Munir inspected the guard of honour and received a formal salute.
This event also commemorates the successful outcome of the historic Marka-e-Haq, in which Pakistan defeated India in a multi-domain operation.
Under the leadership of Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) demonstrated remarkable performance, downing seven enemy aircraft, including four Rafale jets and an S-400 system.
The Pakistan Navy, under Admiral Naveed Ashraf, successfully defended Pakistan's maritime borders, preventing any offensive from the Indian Navy.
Field Marshal Asim Munir appointed Pakistan's first Chief of Defence Forces
Earlier this month, the federal government appointed Field Marshal Asim Munir as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), marking a historic development in the country’s military structure.
The appointment, approved by President Asif Ali Zardari following a summary submitted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stipulates that Field Marshal Munir will simultaneously serve as Chief of Army Staff.
The Ministry of Defence issued a notification for the appointment of the Chief of Defence Forces soon after approval from the president.
The president granted approval under Article 243 of the Constitution and Clause 8A of the Army Act. The creation of the CDF post follows the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which established the position to strengthen coordination among the armed forces. With parliamentary approval, Field Marshal Munir has now formally assumed this newly created role.
The notification confirms that Gen Asim Munir will hold both the offices of Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces. The tenure of the CDF will commence immediately upon issuance of the notification and is set for a period of five years.