Sep 10 – Pakistan’s latest military restructuring has placed renewed focus on the expanding role of Field Marshal Asim Munir, following legislation that formally defines the powers of the country’s top military office.
Parliament in late August passed the Defence Forces of Pakistan Act, 2026, and amendments to the National Command Authority Act, 2010. The laws give legal effect to the office of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), created through the 27th Constitutional Amendment passed in November 2025.
The National Assembly approved the legislation on August 20, shortly after it was cleared by the Cabinet. The bills were not included in the Assembly’s original agenda and were passed within hours.
Munir, who currently serves as both army chief and CDF, heads the newly established Defence Forces Headquarters (DFHQ).
The restructuring replaces the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, a position created in 1976 to coordinate the country’s army, navy and air force.
Analysts have described the changes as the most significant restructuring of Pakistan’s higher military command in decades.
The changes come just over a year after Pakistan’s four-day conflict with India in May 2025 and as the country continues to navigate complex regional security challenges.
Pakistan’s military, particularly the army, has historically played a significant role in the country’s political affairs. The military has staged four coups since independence in 1947 and ruled the country directly for more than three decades.
The new legislation formalises aspects of the authority traditionally exercised by the army chief and establishes a more centralised structure for the country’s defence command.
The changes have therefore renewed discussion about the evolving relationship between Pakistan’s civilian government and its military, as well as the role Munir will play under the new command structure.
