Pakistan will now soar to greater heights, says Field Marshal Asim Munir

Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir said that Pakistan is moving in a positive direction and will “soar to greater heights” in the coming days. He gave these remarks during an informal conversation with journalists at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Field Marshal Munir said that things in the country were improving. He added that the progress was visible and Pakistan would continue to rise. His comments came shortly after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recommended his appointment as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).

Government Approves Dual Appointment

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, PM Shehbaz approved the summary to appoint Field Marshal Asim Munir as both Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces. The summary was then forwarded to President Asif Ali Zardari, who also approved it later in the day.

Field Marshal Munir will serve in both roles for five years. Along with this, the prime minister also approved a two-year extension for Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu. His extension will begin after his current term ends in March 2026.

CDF Notification Expected Soon, Says Law Minister

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the notification for Pakistan’s first CDF was in process and could be issued at any time. He urged people not to create speculation or confusion around the matter. He added that there was no political disagreement over the appointment.

CDF Will Be a Key National Security Institution

The Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, said that the CDF will play a major role in national security. He explained that the law had been amended to create this new position and that its rules and regulations were still being finalised. He stressed that the process required caution and careful drafting.

Sanaullah rejected all rumours about delays and said that the notification was moving forward normally.

Officials Reject Speculation of Civil-Military Misunderstanding

Dr Tauqir Shah, a close aide to the prime minister, strongly denied claims of tension between the government and the military. He said all such rumours were “baseless” and “misleading”.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also dismissed the rumours. He said that establishing a new system like the CDF structure takes time and cannot happen by “pressing a button”.

Last week, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also issued a similar statement. He advised the public not to believe in unnecessary speculation and said the official notification would be issued at the right time.