Chief of Defence Forces (Pakistan)
| Chief of Defence Forces | |
|---|---|
Emblem of the Chief of the Defence Forces | |
Flag of the Chief of the Defence Forces | |
since 4 December 2025 | |
| Pakistan Armed Forces | |
| Abbreviation | CDF |
| Member of | Pakistan Army |
| Reports to | Prime Minister of Pakistan |
| Residence | Joint Staff Headquarters (Rawalpindi Cantonment) |
| Seat | Rawalpindi, Punjab |
| Nominator | Prime Minister of Pakistan |
| Appointer | President of Pakistan |
| Term length | 5 years (renewable once) |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Pakistan (Article 243, 27th Amendment) |
| Precursor | Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (abolished) |
| Inaugural holder | Asim Munir |
The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) is a statutory office and the highest-ranking military position within the Pakistan Armed Forces, held ex officio by the Chief of the Army Staff. The post was established under the 27th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan, which amended Article 243 to replace the long-standing role of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) with a single, unified command position.
The creation of the CDF abolishes the office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and introduces a unified command structure across the armed services. Under the new constitutional framework, the CDF is appointed by the President of Pakistan on the advice of the Prime Minister.
The office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) was abolished on 27 November 2025, following the retirement of the last officeholder, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza. The first and incumbent CDF is Asim Munir, serving in this capacity since 4 December 2025.