Pakistan Assembly passes bills reshaping military and nuclear command

21-Aug-2026

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Pakistan's National Assembly on August 20 passed two bills linked to the military and nuclear command structure, in a move aimed at streamlining changes in the military hierarchy after last year's 27th Constitutional Amendment.

The amendment created the office of Chief of Defence Forces by abolishing the post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. The post of CDF is being held concurrently by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir. It also created the office of Commander of the National Strategic Command, a four-star post overseeing the operational integration of Pakistan's strategic forces.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif presented the Defence Forces of Pakistan Act, 2026 and the amended National Command Authority Act, 2010 in the lower house of parliament, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was present. Last month, Gen Syed Aamer Raza was promoted from lieutenant general and appointed as the first CNSC.