ISLAMABAD: Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has emerged as the most influential figure in Pakistan’s security establishment, admired by supporters as a firm guardian of national interests and scrutinised by critics who question how much power now rests with one officer.
Munir became army chief in November 2022, and in November 2024 parliament extended the service terms of the armed forces chiefs from three to five years. His standing rose sharply after the May 2025 conflict with India. He was promoted to field marshal on May 20, 2025, for his leadership during the fighting, becoming the second person in Pakistan’s history to hold the rank after Ayub Khan.
His authority widened further last year. Parliament created the post of Chief of Defence Forces under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, with the stated aim of centralising military command. In December 2025, Munir was named to the role for five years while remaining army chief. The government says the new structure will improve joint planning and speed up decision-making across the army, navy and air force.
Supporters credit Munir with strengthening the country’s defences and say his influence now reaches beyond the barracks. Pakistani officials and commentators point to his role in diplomacy and economic outreach, including contacts with Washington and Gulf capitals and efforts to attract investment in minerals and agriculture.
For admirers, his decisions reflect a determination to secure Pakistan’s future at a time of pressure from beyond its borders and strain within them.
The concentration of authority has also drawn criticism. The law that created the new post grants Munir lifetime uniformed service and immunity from arrest. The party of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has said the sweeping powers undermine democracy. The armed forces have also faced intense scrutiny over Khan’s imprisonment; he is serving a 14-year sentence in a land graft case. The military has not accepted that its role is political, and the government has defended the changes as necessary for modern warfare.
Whether that authority translates into lasting stability and prosperity will depend, analysts say, on how it is balanced against civilian institutions in the years ahead.
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