Army chief stresses integration to keep up with threats
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• In maiden address after becoming chief of defence forces, Field Marshal Munir warns New Delhi that Islamabad’s response will be more ‘swift and severe’ now
• Says message conveyed to Kabul to either choose ‘mischief-makers or Pakistan’
RAWALPINDI: In his first address after assuming the newly-created office of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Field Marshal Asim Munir on Monday hailed the newly established CDF Headquarters as “historic”, stating it would be better to integrate the three armed services — the army, navy, and air force — to keep pace with the dynamics of future threats.
Speaking at a ceremony here at GHQ, the chief of army staff (COAS) emphasised the need for formal tri-service integration and synergy, highlighting that the armed forces must remain aligned with modern aspects of warfare, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
He noted that the country needed to keep up with emerging spheres in warfare, such as cyberspace, the electromagnetic spectrum, outer space, information operations, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing.
Field Marshal Munir also highlighted that the multi-domain operations conducted during the brief war with India in May had now become a textbook example and case study for future warfare.
“While addressing the officers of the tri-services, [the CDF] reiterated the extraordinary courage and conviction displayed by the complete Pakistani nation, particularly the professionalism of the valiant men and women of the Armed Forces of Pakistan during Marka-i-Haq,” the ISPR’s statement read, adding that he paid homage to martyrs.
State broadcaster PTV News reported that according to the CDF, all three services of the armed forces would maintain their “internal autonomy and organisational structure”.
He also emphasised that multi-domain operations must be improved under the unified armed services, in light of evolving security threats.
“The establishment of the Defence Forces Headquarters is an essential step towards this change,” Field Marshal Munir stated. “Each service will maintain its individuality for its operational readiness, [while] the Defence Forces Headquarters will integrate and coordinate the operations of the services.”
India warned
The CDF then turned his attention to India and Afghanistan, saying that the former should not “fall prey to any misconception, as Pakistan’s response would be much more swift and severe”.
“A clear message has been given to the Taliban regime [in Afghanistan] that they have no option but to choose between the khawarij mischief-makers or Pakistan,” he added.
The CDF reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peace but stressed that no one would be allowed to challenge its territorial integrity or sovereignty.
“Let everyone know that the idea of Pakistan is invincible, and its protection is ensured by the firm resolve of faithful, brave soldiers and a united nation,” Field Marshal Munir stated.
According to the ISPR, in his closing remarks, the CDF envisaged the armed forces as a “culturally futuristic, combat-ready military machine that deters aggression and enjoys [the] full confidence of the nation”.
Guard of honour
Earlier in the day, Field Marshal Munir was presented with a guard of honour at GHQ.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf and Chief of the Air Staff Zaheer Ahmad Babar were also present at the ceremony.
According to PTV, the army chief was presented with a guard of honour by contingents from all three armed forces in recognition of his elevation to the position of CDF.
On Friday, the army chief was notified as the country’s first CDF, in what is considered the most sweeping restructuring of the military command since the 1970s.
The new arrangement consolidates operational, administrative and strategic authority in a single office established through amendments to Article 243 of the Constitution under the 27th Amendment.
The revised Article 243 provides that the president, acting on the prime minister’s advice, shall appoint the chief of the army staff, who will concurrently serve as the CDF.
The amendment also abolished the office of chairman joint chiefs of staff committee (CJCSC), dismantling the tri-service coordination system in place since 1976 and transferring joint command integration to the CDF.
Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2025
