India, Dec. 5 -- Pakistan's Pesident Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday approved the appointment of the army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, as the first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) for a five-year term.

The approval came after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif forwarded a summary formally recommending that Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Munir be appointed as the country's inaugural CDF.

The move follows the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment last month, which created the post of CDF to ensure unity of command and accelerate decision-making during critical situations.

The new position replaces the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), which has now been abolished.

A statement from the President' s Office said Zardari e...