Pakistan's Military Transformation: Field Marshal Asim Munir Becomes Unprecedented Chief of Defence Forces

Pakistan's military is entering one of its most powerful eras, and that too without directly seizing power, with army chief Asim Munir taking charge as the country's first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) on Thursday. The post, created through the contentious 27th Amendment to the Pakistani Constitution, places Syed Asim Munir at the helm of all three services - the army, air force and navy - for a fixed five-year term.

The amendments, which were passed by the Senate on November 1, abolished the position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), the senior-most tri-services role. This position was established in 1976 by former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto following Pakistan's defeat in the 1971 war with India.

With General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, the incumbent CJCSC, retiring today, this position's decades-long presence in Pakistan's defense framework has come to an end.

As a nuclear power with 240 million people, Pakistan has alternated between civilian and military rule since its founding in 1947. The last military leader to openly govern was Pervez Musharraf, who took power through a coup in 1999 and served as president until 2008.

Though civilian administrations have officially held power since then, the military's influence over Pakistan's political and economic spheres remains deeply entrenched, with political analysts describing it as a "hybrid rule" shared between civilian government and military establishment.

The 27th Amendment has further shifted the balance toward the military. Now the army chief stands above the leaders of the other two forces and holds sole charge of the country's nuclear weapons systems. Overall control of the tri-forces has been transferred from the president and cabinet to the CDF.

As Chief of Defence Forces, Munir's tenure clock has been reset. The amendments have extended his service until at least 2030.

He was originally scheduled to retire Thursday, but an amendment last year increased service chiefs' tenure from three to five years, extending his regular retirement to November 27, 2027. Now, he will serve a fresh five-year term in his new position until 2030.

The changes also grant Munir legal protection equivalent to the country's President. The field marshal, like the President, receives lifelong immunity from legal prosecution. This protection extends to the air force and navy chiefs as well.

If Munir expresses a desire for reappointment to the prime minister and president when his term concludes, they would likely grant his request, given the extensive power they have already bestowed upon him.

The amendments also diminish government oversight of the military. According to Pakistani media, the CDF now has authority to recommend appointments to the Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) position, which the federal government then authorizes. Previously, the civilian government held this executive prerogative.

Beyond these powers, the Army will play a crucial role in selecting the head of the National Strategic Command (NSC), which oversees Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. The amendments indicate that the commander will be appointed from the army by the executive based on the CDF's recommendation.

Munir became army chief in November 2022 after serving in senior positions, including quartermaster general and Corps Commander Gujranwala. He previously headed Military Intelligence and later Pakistan's powerful spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence.

In 2019, he was removed as intelligence chief just eight months into his tenure under then-prime minister Imran Khan, for reasons that remain undisclosed.

Munir's career trajectory improved after lawmakers ousted Khan. The subsequent Shehbaz Sharif government appointed him to lead the military.

Following a four-day confrontation with India in May this year, Munir was promoted to field marshal.

"Field Marshal Asim Munir has become the most powerful man in Pakistan," according to defense analyst Naeem Khalid Lodhi, a retired lieutenant general.

"The politicians are responsible for making him even more powerful. For their short-term interests, they have put Pakistan's long-term interests at stake," he told news agency AFP.

A coalition of parties considered amenable to the powerful military formed a government after Pakistan's February 2024 elections, in which Imran Khan — the nation's most popular politician — was imprisoned and barred from participating.

Shuja Nawaz, an author and South Asia expert, views the amendment vote as a survival strategy. Politicians "renewed their insurance policy," he said. "Munir's five-year term will outlast theirs, and they expect his support when elections come."

To Lodhi, "the constitution governs the affairs of the state, and only a genuinely representative government can amend it."

Nawaz said Munir now "probably has as much power" as the late military ruler Pervez Musharraf, who seized power in 1999. "Like Musharraf, he has a subservient prime minister and the authority to reshape the army's structure," he said.

Nawaz noted that Munir, in his new role as chief of defence forces, can also overhaul military command and "modernise the force". The lifetime rank follows British tradition, he added.

"Field marshals don't retire. They may leave a post, but they remain field marshal for life," he said.

Munir has already achieved some diplomatic successes, including a private lunch with US President Trump.

However, Shah warned, "Trump is unpredictable, and India remains a bigger draw for Washington.

"Pakistan's future lies in a strong economy and stable political system -- neither of which it has right now."