Pakistan passes Defense Forces of Pakistan Bill to formalize new military command
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Pakistan's National Assembly passed the Defense Forces of Pakistan Bill last week, formalizing the new military command structure. The legislation operationalizes the role of Chief of Defense Forces and establishes the Defense Forces Headquarters. The move follows the 27th Constitutional Amendment that abolished the chairman joint chiefs of staff committee.
Key Facts
- Pakistan's National Assembly passed the Defense Forces of Pakistan Bill last week.
- The bill establishes the Defense Forces Headquarters as the central headquarters of the Armed Forces.
- The 27th Constitutional Amendment, passed in 2025, abolished the chairman joint chiefs of staff committee and created the chief of defense forces position.
- Field Marshal Asim Munir became Pakistan's first chief of defense forces under the revised framework.
Legislative Process
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif presented the Defense Forces of Pakistan Act, 2026, and amendments to the National Command Authority Act, 2010, in parliament. Both bills had earlier been approved by the federal cabinet in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. A statement from the Prime Minister's Office described the bills as a continuation of adjustments introduced under the 27th Constitutional Amendment. The Defense Forces Act aims to determine administrative matters regarding the office of the Chief of Defense Forces and its headquarters.
Command Structure Overhaul
The 27th Constitutional Amendment abolished the long-standing office of chairman joint chiefs of staff committee and created the new position of chief of defense forces. Both posts are occupied by the chief of army staff, and Field Marshal Asim Munir became the first chief of defense forces. The amendment also established the commander of the National Strategic Command, a four-star office responsible for operational integration of strategic forces. The Defense Forces of Pakistan Act is designed to give practical effect to the CDF's role as overall commander of the armed forces.
Operational Integration
The draft bill states the changes are intended to ensure multidomain integration, restructuring and optimum jointness of the Armed Forces. The provision seeks to reduce compartmentalization between individual services and create a more unified operational posture across land, air, maritime and other domains. The legislation enables the establishment of the Defense Forces Headquarters, which will serve as the central headquarters of the Armed Forces. This creates a single institutional center under the CDF for coordination, planning and oversight that previously did not exist in the same consolidated form.
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Pakistan passes Defense Forces of Pakistan Bill to formalize new military command
