Defence Minister Calls Speculation ‘Irresponsible’, CDF Notification to be Issued in due time

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday dismissed speculation surrounding the notification for the appointment of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), stressing that the announcement will be made in due course.

The government recently introduced the CDF post through the 27th Constitutional Amendment. Addressing the rumours, Asif wrote on X, “There is unnecessary and irresponsible speculation about CDF notification. Please be informed that the process has been initiated.” He added that there was “no room for conjecture” and that the official notification would follow at the appropriate time.

Field Marshal Asim Munir, who currently serves as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), is set to be appointed as the first CDF — a post created after the abolition of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee under the amended Army Act.

The government will determine the CDF’s duties, functions, and responsibilities, which include overseeing multi-domain integration, restructuring, and ensuring optimum jointness across the Armed Forces. The tenure of the COAS will also recommence for five years following the issuance of the new notification. Provisions of Article 243 of the Constitution, applicable to a Field Marshal, will also apply where a General is promoted to this rank.

Field Marshal Munir was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal — Pakistan’s second and the first in over six decades — following the country’s decisive victory over India in the May war.