Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir addressed officers during a guard of honour ceremony at GHQ, marking his appointment as Pakistan’s first-ever CDF.

Referring to the May conflict with India, Munir highlighted Pakistan’s strong and effective retaliation and warned India not to miscalculate, saying Pakistan’s response will be swift and intense if provoked.

He also spoke about tensions with the Afghan Taliban, stating they must choose between Fitna al-Khawarij (TTP) or Pakistan.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s peaceful stance, the CDF emphasized that no one will be allowed to threaten the country’s sovereignty or territorial integrity.

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Field Marshal Munir described the newly-established Defence Forces Headquarters (DHQ) as a historic change, designed to enhance multi-domain operations among the army, navy, and air force. Each service will maintain its individual operational autonomy while working under the unified system for improved coordination.

He highlighted the need for armed forces to adapt to modern warfare, including cyberspace, electromagnetic spectrum, outer space, AI, quantum computing, and information operations.

The CDF paid tribute to the martyrs of Marka-e-Haq, calling them the “pride of the nation.” Earlier, Field Marshal Munir was given a guard of honor by contingents from all three services. The ceremony was attended by senior officers, including PAF Chief ACM Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf.

The Ministry of Defense officially notified Munir’s appointment as CDF. He will also continue serving as Chief of Army Staff for five years. Munir’s promotion to Field Marshal is Pakistan’s first in over six decades, following the country’s victory in the May conflict with India.

The creation of the CDF position was approved by President Zardari on November 15, following parliamentary amendments to the Pakistan Army, Air Force, and Navy Bills 2025.