A grand ceremony was held at General Headquarters (GHQ) Rawalpindi on Monday to honour Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces.

Contingents representing the Army, Navy and Air Force presented a formal guard of honour as senior military leadership gathered to mark this historic moment.

Field Marshal Asim Munir — who also serves as chief of army staff — was welcomed with a general salute before inspecting the guard of honour. Contingents from the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, and Pakistan Air Force took part in the ceremonial tribute.

The event was attended by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, and senior officers of all three services.

In his address to officers, the chief of defence forces praised the extraordinary bravery demonstrated by the nation. According to the ISPR, Field Marshal Munir described the professional role of the armed forces in Marka-e-Haq as a textbook example for future conflicts. He also paid tribute to the martyrs of the war.

The need for formal mechanisms to ensure tri-services integration and coordination was emphasised during the event, the ISPR added.

The statement further quoted the field marshal as highlighting that preparing the forces in line with modern warfare requirements is essential, with particular attention needed in emerging domains such as cyberspace, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing. The headquarters will play a key role in synchronising and harmonising operations across the three services, he maintained.

The vision for the armed forces was outlined as one that is culturally futuristic, war-ready, and fully trusted by the nation. Heroes of Marka-e-Haq were honoured with Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force awards in recognition of their bravery, the ISPR said.

Field Marshal Asim Munir addresses officers

The Field Marshal described the creation of the newly established Defence Forces Headquarters as a historic and fundamental transformation. He noted that, given the growing and evolving threats, it is essential to further enhance multi-domain operations under a unified tri-services system.

He said the establishment of the Defence Forces Headquarters is a necessary step toward this modernization. While each service will maintain its distinct identity and operational preparedness, the Headquarters will ensure coordination and synchronization of all operations.

Clear warnings to adversaries

He emphasized that, despite unified high command, the three forces will retain their internal autonomy and organizational structures.

Turning to regional security, Field Marshal Munir cautioned that India should not fall prey to any self-deception or assumptions, warning that Pakistan’s response in the future would be even swifter and more severe.

He said Pakistan has delivered a clear message to the Taliban regime: they have no option but to choose between terrorists or Pakistan.

Pakistan’s commitment to peace and sovereignty

The Field Marshal reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peace, stating: “I reiterate that Pakistan is a peace-loving country; however, no one will be allowed to threaten our sovereignty, territorial integrity, or test our resolve.”

He concluded with a firm declaration: “Let it be known that the concept of Pakistan is invincible, protected by the unwavering determination of warriors devoted to faith and by a united nation.”

On Dec 4, President Asif Ali Zardari assented to a summary to appoint Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as the country’s first chief of defence forces (CDF).

Also Read: Field Marshal Munir becomes country's first CDF

A press release issued from the Presidency said the president also signed off on the two-year extension in the tenure of Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu and extended his best wishes to the two for their successful tenures.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent the summary to the president.
The appointment will also see File Marshal Munir serve as the army chief for a five-year term. This historic appointment, effective for a five-year term, makes him the first-ever CDF in Pakistan.

Alongside this, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved a two-year extension for Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, to begin after completing his current five-year term in March 2026.