Why Pakistan overhauled its military command structure after five decades
Al Jazeera · 2026-09-04
In late August 2026, Pakistan's parliament passed legislation, including the Defence Forces of Pakistan Act, 2026, and an amendment to the National Command Authority Act, 2010, which for the first time codifies the powers of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF). This follows the 27th constitutional amendment in November 2025 that created the CDF office, currently held by Field Marshal Asim Munir, who also serves as army chief. The new laws abolish the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) and establish a Defence Forces Headquarters (DFHQ), giving the CDF "operational command and control of the Armed Forces" across all three services, not just the army.
Analysts describe this as the most significant restructuring of Pakistan's higher military command since 1976 and a codified chain of command from the prime minister through the CDF to individual service chiefs. However, critics raise concerns that the changes are army-centric, as the Commander of the National Strategic Command (CNSC), overseeing nuclear-capable forces, must now come from the army and is appointed on the CDF's recommendation, excluding the navy and air force from this four-star post. Furthermore, some argue that the new law centralizes significant power with the CDF, allowing him to dismiss or retire officers without cabinet approval and potentially weakening civilian oversight by granting operational command to the CDF over the armed forces, which some believe conflicts with Article 243 of the constitution stating the federal government controls the armed forces.