Field Marshal Asim Munir Receives Historic Guard of Honour at GHQ After Taking Charge as Pakistan’s First CDF

RAWALPINDI:  Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Monday received a ceremonial guard of honour at the General Headquarters (GHQ), marking his first public appearance since assuming charge as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), a role newly instituted under recent constitutional reforms.

According to reports citing Dawn and The Diplomatic Insight, a smartly turned-out tri-services contingent representing the Army, Navy and Air Force presented the guard of honour as Munir arrived at GHQ. Senior military leaders from all services attended the ceremony, underscoring what officials described as a “unified command moment” for the country’s defence apparatus.

The Ministry of Defence had formally notified Munir’s appointment last week, following the President’s approval on the Prime Minister’s advice. The new role carries a five-year tenure and effectively replaces the former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee position, which was abolished under the 27th Constitutional Amendment. The amendment centralises operational, administrative and strategic oversight of all armed forces under the CDF.

Reports from Pakistani media note that Munir continues to serve simultaneously as Chief of Army Staff (COAS), making him the first officer to hold both posts. Defence analysts say the dual-hat leadership model is designed to streamline decision-making and improve inter-services coordination in “a rapidly evolving security environment”.

During the ceremony, Field Marshal Munir inspected the lines, exchanged greetings with troops and held brief interactions with senior commanders. Though brief, the event was widely viewed as symbolic — signalling the beginning of a reorganised defence structure and a shift toward a more consolidated chain of command.

With the guard of honour concluded and the new command framework operational, Pakistan’s military establishment steps into what officials describe as a “strategically aligned era”, with Munir at the helm of all three services.