Pakistan passes law giving Asim Munir sweeping military powers

The Pakistan National Assembly has passed the Defence Forces Act 2026, giving Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir extensive authority over the country's armed forces. The legislation places Munir at the centre of a unified command structure over the Army, Navy and Air Force, and makes him the principal military adviser to the Prime Minister. The law also grants him powers over retirement, discharge and service terms of personnel across all three services.

Two days after the law was passed, the federal government authorised the deployment of three companies of the Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi for six months, officially citing sensitive security duties. ThePrint reports that the timing has raised questions, with some analysts interpreting the move as a sign the military leadership fears dissent within the ranks. Opposition lawmakers had boycotted the vote and staged a walkout during the passage of the bill.

ThePrint also notes that the new military structure could challenge India's escalation strategy, as Pakistan's integrated command model allows direct operational authority over all three services, unlike India's current coordination-based approach. The law gives legal backing to changes that had already been functioning since November 2025, including the appointment of a four-star Commander of the National Strategic Command in July 2026.