Pakistan PM delaying Asim Munir's army promotion, says expert

The process to appoint Field Marshal Asim Munir as the supreme head of all three armed forces, i.e., Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), in Pakistan has hit a roadblock. The notification to make Munir CDF was supposed to be issued by 29 November, but PM Shehbaz Sharif has not signed it yet. Before this, Shehbaz had gone to Bahrain on 26 November and then left for an informal trip to London on 27 November. Media reports claim that Shehbaz Sharif deliberately kept himself away from this process to avoid having to sign the order for Asim Munir’s new appointment. The Pakistani parliament had passed the 27th constitutional amendment on 12 November to strengthen the military. Under this, Asim Munir was to be made the super chief of all three forces, i.e., CDF. Once appointed to this post, he would also gain command over Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, effectively becoming the most powerful person in the country.

Tilak Devesher, former member of India's National Security Advisory Board (NSAB), told a news agency that Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has intentionally stayed away from the ongoing matter and left for London without informing anyone. Devesher also expressed concern that Asim Munir could try to provoke tension with India to demonstrate his authority. He added that even if it is not officially confirmed whether Munir is the new Army Chief or not, he still holds enough power to get things done.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif posted on X that, 'The notification process for CDF has been started, the notification will be issued soon.' However, the government did not explain why the notification was not issued on November 29. Under Pakistan’s amended Constitution, the Army Chief’s term becomes coterminous with the CDF and lasts five years — but legal experts remain divided on whether a fresh notification is mandatory.