Chief of Defence Forces (Pakistan)

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 abolished the position of the CJCSC following the retirement of its last officeholder (General Sahir Shamshad Mirza) on 27 November 2025, introducing 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 first and incumbent CDF is Asim Munir, serving in this capacity since 4 December 2025.