ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the summary submitted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the appointment of Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir concurrently as Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) for a period of five years.
According to an announcement from the Aiwan e Sadr on Thursday evening, the president has also approved a two year extension in the service of Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, to take effect from the completion of his present tenure on March 19, 2026. The president extended his best wishes to the COAS, concurrently the CDF, and the Chief of Air Staff for their successful tenures.
Earlier, the prime minister approved the summary for the appointment of Field Marshal Munir “as the chief of army staff and the chief of defence forces”, and then referred it to the President House, said a press release by the PM Office. Field Marshal Munir’s appointment for both roles is for a period of five years, the statement said. PM Shehbaz also approved a two year extension in the tenure of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, which will take effect upon the completion of his current five year tenure in March 2026, the PMO added.
Meanwhile, during an informal conversation with journalists at the Aiwan e Sadr, COAS Field Marshal Asim Munir said that from here onwards, Pakistan would soar to greater heights. “Everything is fine; it’s all in front of you. Things are moving towards improvement, and Pakistan will now soar to greater heights from here,” he said.
Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz extended his congratulations to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on his historic appointment as Pakistan’s first ever Chief of Defence Forces. In a statement, the prime minister conveyed his best wishes to Field Marshal Munir, stating that the establishment of this senior post aligns with contemporary and modern warfare requirements and will further strengthen the country’s defence. “Under the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, our brave armed forces have delivered a resounding defeat to the enemy,” said the prime minister. He added that the remarkable success achieved under the Field Marshal’s command in recent conflicts has brought honour to Pakistan and made the nation’s name shine across the globe.
Separately, the prime minister also congratulated Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu on receiving a two year extension in his tenure. “Under the leadership of Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, the Pakistan Air Force demonstrated exceptional professional capability in recent operations, destroying enemy fighter jets and establishing its dominance,” the prime minister stated. He emphasised that all national institutions will work together for Pakistan’s defence, development and prosperity. “We will collectively make the country’s defence impregnable,” he affirmed.
Meanwhile, in highest level talks, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan, underscoring the importance of regional peace and stability, agreed that the Afghan Taliban regime must honour its commitments to the international community and address Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns by taking concrete and verifiable actions against terrorist entities.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov Nurgozhoevich led their respective sides at the delegation level meeting in the PM House. Both leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and a sustainable future for its people. Besides bilateral cooperation, both sides also exchanged views on important regional and global developments.
While expressing their concern over the escalating threats to peace and security in the region, they agreed that disputes must be resolved through peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter, and relevant UN Security Council resolutions. They exchanged views on the ongoing peace efforts in Gaza and reiterated their unwavering support for the Palestinian people’s right to self determination and the establishment of a sovereign, viable, contiguous and independent Palestinian state, based on pre June 1967 borders with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital. During the talks, the prime minister was assisted by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers and senior government officials.
The prime minister emphasised that Pakistan attached high importance to its brotherly relations with the Kyrgyz Republic. He reiterated Pakistan’s abiding commitment to enhancing its engagement with the Central Asian states under the ‘Vision Central Asia’ policy.
Both leaders stressed the importance of expanding and deepening Pakistan Kyrgyz relations, reviewing existing cooperation frameworks and reaffirming their resolve to strengthen the partnership, especially in trade, energy, connectivity and people to people contacts. They agreed to boost bilateral trade and investment, targeting $200 million by 2027 28 through effective implementation of signed agreements and a results oriented approach, noting the successful fifth meeting of the Kyrgyz Pakistan Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation held in Islamabad on 28 29 July 2025. Recognising energy connectivity as vital for regional stability, they reiterated their shared vision for timely implementation of the CASA 1000 project and emphasised the need for well developed, secure, sustainable and diversified routes between the two countries, expressing satisfaction with the operational road corridor under the Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement.
Earlier, upon arrival at the Prime Minister’s House, the Kyrgyz president was presented a guard of honour by a contingent of Pakistan’s armed forces. The prime minister also hosted a luncheon in honour of the visiting dignitary and his delegation.
Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan signed 15 memoranda of understanding and agreements covering trade, energy, mining, agriculture, culture, tourism, education, law and security. Both leaders set a target to raise bilateral trade from about $15 million today to $200 million within two years and reaffirmed support for the CASA 1000 electricity transmission project. Pakistan pledged to provide Kyrgyzstan access to its ports (Karachi, Qasim, Gwadar) for regional connectivity, while Kyrgyzstan invited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to attend the 2026 SCO Summit in Bishkek. The agreements also included cooperation on customs data exchange, prisoner transfers and joint cultural events.
Later, the prime minister, in a joint press stakeout along with the Kyrgyz president, expressed his confidence that the visit of Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov, which was taking place after a gap of two decades, will give a fresh impetus to the already strong bilateral relations in all fields of mutual interaction. “Just now, we have witnessed a signing ceremony of 15 MoUs and agreements,” the prime minister added. He pointed out that the discussion highlighted the need to strengthen people to people exchanges through cultural initiatives, tourism promotion and academic partnership. The prime minister said that the business forum will ensure to take the current bilateral trade volume of $16 million to $200 million.
Shehbaz said that Pakistan was ready to provide the Kyrgyz Republic, a land locked country, access to regional and global markets through the seaports of Karachi and Gwadar.
The Kyrgyz president said it was his first official visit and the first for any head of state of the Kyrgyz Republic after 20 years. He noted that both sides focused on activating collaboration in trade, economy, investment, transport, logistics, education and science. Welcoming the ongoing business forum, he stressed the importance of developing the Kyrgyz Pakistan Business Council to unite the business communities and called for full use of the countries’ transport and transit potential as a key partnership area. The Kyrgyz president highlighted the CASA 1000 project’s pivotal role and expressed confidence that its timely implementation would bring substantial mutual benefits.
Furthermore, he said that the two sides also exchanged views on future cooperation in the education field. Currently, he said, more than 12,000 Pakistani students were studying in Kyrgyzstan. “We are ready to further facilitate Pakistani students in the country,” he added. He said the two sides shared a commitment to combat terrorism, extremism and transnational crime. “We agreed to strengthen coordination between competent authorities to ensure peace, security and stability in the region.”
Separately, President Asif Ali Zardari and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov held a meeting and reaffirmed the shared commitment of both countries to deepen cooperation in trade, energy, connectivity, education, banking and people to people exchanges for the mutual benefit of the two brotherly nations.
President Zardari received President Sadyr Zhaparov at the Aiwan e Sadr. Before the delegation level talks, the two leaders held a brief tête à tête to review the bilateral relationship. President Zardari welcomed the Kyrgyz president, noting that the high level visit would inject fresh momentum into the already cordial ties between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan; both leaders reviewed cooperation across various fields, agreed that the current trade level of about $15 million does not reflect the economies’ potential, and pledged to broaden commercial exchanges, targeting $200 million in bilateral trade within two years.
The key points included Kyrgyzstan has completed its segment of the CASA 1000 transmission line, and Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to finish its part, which is now at an advanced stage. They expressed satisfaction with the operational road corridor under the Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement and highlighted Pakistan’s offer of the shortest and most economical route to the Arabian Sea via Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar. Emphasis was placed on expanding direct flights to boost trade, tourism and people to people contacts. A Kyrgyz business delegation attended the Pakistan Kyrgyzstan Business Forum, underscoring the shared desire to deepen economic links. Pakistan has added Kyrgyzstan to its Business Visa List and Visa Prior to Arrival categories, inviting reciprocal facilitation for Pakistani traders and travellers. Zardari thanked Kyrgyzstan for hosting thousands of Pakistani students and workers, noting the strong cultural and historical affinities between the two nations. Overall, the visit reinforced mutual commitments across trade, energy, transport and people to people cooperation, setting a clear roadmap to elevate Pakistan Kyrgyz relations to a higher level.
President Zhaparov informed President Zardari that, following the recent general elections in Kyrgyzstan, a new law has been passed reserving at least 30 percent of seats for women. He thanked Pakistan for supporting Kyrgyzstan’s candidacy for the non permanent seat of the UN Security Council and invited the president to visit Kyrgyzstan at a time of his convenience. Matters relating to the regional and international situation also came under discussion.
Saleh Zaafir adds: As soon as the appointment of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as the first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of Pakistan for a five-year term was announced here on Thursday evening, messages of felicitation from world capitals began to pour in. Highly placed diplomatic sources told The News on Thursday that the leaders of the Gulf countries took the lead in sending congratulatory messages to the Field Marshal. Bahrain was the first country to share a message of felicitation with the Field Marshal. Most of the diplomats attending President’s banquet for the visiting Kyrgyz President congratulated Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir during the feast.
