Pakistan’s Parliament has formally given statutory force to the country’s new unified military command structure, placing the operational command of the Army, Navy and Air Force under Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir.
The move comes through the Defence Forces of Pakistan Act, 2026, passed by Parliament on August 20, alongside amendments to the National Command Authority Act. The legislation provides a detailed legal framework for the office of the Chief of Defence Forces and the Defence Forces Headquarters.
Field Marshal Asim Munir currently serves concurrently as Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces. Under the new statutory framework, the CDF has operational command and control across Pakistan’s armed forces, bringing the three services under a unified senior command structure.
The legislation also gives the CDF significant authority over military personnel and administrative matters, while the National Command Authority amendments align Pakistan’s strategic command structure with the new military hierarchy.
The changes represent a major restructuring of Pakistan’s military command system and formally translate the CDF position created through the 27th Constitutional Amendment into a detailed statutory framework.
Supporters say the unified structure is intended to improve coordination and speed up decision-making among the three services, while critics have raised concerns about the concentration of military authority and civilian oversight.
