Pakistani media reported that the draft of the 27th Amendment to the Constitution of the country has been submitted to the National Assembly; a proposal that, if approved, will expand the power of the army to an unprecedented extent and pave the way for the concentration of military authority at the top of the Pakistani political structure.
Publish dateSunday 9 November 2025 - 16:27
Story Code : 335510
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): The draft, which has also been submitted to the Senate and has not yet been finalized, includes five major changes in the command structure and defense system of Pakistan:
1. The army chief will henceforth be known as the Chief of Defense Staff;
2. The post of Joint Chiefs of Staff will be eliminated;
3. The post of National Strategic Command will be created, whose head will be appointed by the Prime Minister on the recommendation of the Chief of Defense Staff;
4. The President of Pakistan will appoint the chiefs of the army, air force, and navy on the recommendation of the Prime Minister;
5. Five-star army officers will enjoy lifelong constitutional protection and immunity.
Domestic critics and Pakistani civil society activists have described the amendment as a step towards shifting the balance of power in favor of the military and weakening civilian institutions. Some observers also see the move as an attempt to legitimize the military’s traditional influence over national politics and decision-making.
The beginning of a new phase of military dictatorship in Pakistan
On his official page on the X social network, Tamim Asi, the former deputy defense minister of Afghanistan, called the approval of this draft “the beginning of a new phase of military dictatorship in Pakistan” and wrote that “Annex 27” grants extra-legal powers and lifelong immunity to General Asim Munir, effectively turning him into a “marshal for life.”
According to Asi, this development is part of Munir’s larger project to build a “hard state”; A model in which the military has absolute supremacy over politics, law, and civil society. He has warned that this path could be a prelude to “settlement of unfinished business” with Afghanistan and India.
In his analysis, issues such as the hypothetical Durand Line, access to Central Asia, water resources of Afghanistan and India, and the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) problem will be at the top of the agenda.
Asi added that “all the recent security propaganda in Pakistan is a prelude to justifying this process of power concentration,” and predicted that the military may launch a new operation or war against Afghanistan or India to divert public opinion from this power concentration. He concluded by warning: “An imposed war is coming, unfortunately!”
“Exporting insecurity” to Afghanistan; Asim Munir’s new plan?
In another short note, Tamim Asi wrote, referring to the history of his negotiations with Pakistani army commanders: “Pakistan is seeking to export insecurity and transfer the geography of war to Afghanistan. It doesn’t matter who is in power in Kabul.”
He went on to say that Pakistani generals have always used the Afghan wars as “cash cows” for their financial gains, and the investments of senior military families in the UAE, Australia, and Saudi Arabia are proof of this.
Asi recalled that the famous “Zarb-e-Azb” operation was one of the biggest money-making machines for former commanders such as Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Raheel Sharif.
According to him, Asim Munir is now pursuing a plan that aims to transfer the geography of the war from Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and other regions of Pakistan to Afghanistan in order to provide a new source of funding for the army through a new war.
Widespread consequences for Pakistan’s political and military structure and the balance of power in the region
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special envoy for Afghanistan peace, also wrote on his X account in response to these developments that numerous reports have been published about amending Article 243 of the Pakistani Constitution.
According to him, if these reforms are implemented, they may result in the following privileges for the army chief – without mentioning Munir directly by name –:
1. Remaining in uniform for the rest of his life;
2. The possibility of dismissal only through impeachment;
3. Assigning lifelong duties to the military official;
4. Enjoying complete legal immunity.
Khalizada has emphasized that this information is based on unofficial reports, but if true, it could have far-reaching consequences for Pakistan’s political and military structure and the balance of power in the region.
Outlook and Conclusion
The draft of Amendment 27 to the Constitution of Pakistan is on the agenda of the country’s legislative institutions, while analysts believe that its approval will place the army in a position above civil institutions and even the country’s constitution.
Inside Pakistan, opponents have described it as a dangerous step towards the militarization of politics and the weakening of democracy, while regionally, experts warn of its potential consequences for Islamabad's relations with Afghanistan and India. Although the draft has not yet reached its final stages, experts believe that even the proposal of such an amendment is a clear sign of the desire of the power structure in Pakistan to consolidate the position of the army as the central pillar of the country's government and foreign policy - a development that could open a new chapter of military and political tensions in South Asia.
1. The army chief will henceforth be known as the Chief of Defense Staff;
2. The post of Joint Chiefs of Staff will be eliminated;
3. The post of National Strategic Command will be created, whose head will be appointed by the Prime Minister on the recommendation of the Chief of Defense Staff;
4. The President of Pakistan will appoint the chiefs of the army, air force, and navy on the recommendation of the Prime Minister;
5. Five-star army officers will enjoy lifelong constitutional protection and immunity.
Domestic critics and Pakistani civil society activists have described the amendment as a step towards shifting the balance of power in favor of the military and weakening civilian institutions. Some observers also see the move as an attempt to legitimize the military’s traditional influence over national politics and decision-making.
The beginning of a new phase of military dictatorship in Pakistan
On his official page on the X social network, Tamim Asi, the former deputy defense minister of Afghanistan, called the approval of this draft “the beginning of a new phase of military dictatorship in Pakistan” and wrote that “Annex 27” grants extra-legal powers and lifelong immunity to General Asim Munir, effectively turning him into a “marshal for life.”
According to Asi, this development is part of Munir’s larger project to build a “hard state”; A model in which the military has absolute supremacy over politics, law, and civil society. He has warned that this path could be a prelude to “settlement of unfinished business” with Afghanistan and India.
In his analysis, issues such as the hypothetical Durand Line, access to Central Asia, water resources of Afghanistan and India, and the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) problem will be at the top of the agenda.
Asi added that “all the recent security propaganda in Pakistan is a prelude to justifying this process of power concentration,” and predicted that the military may launch a new operation or war against Afghanistan or India to divert public opinion from this power concentration. He concluded by warning: “An imposed war is coming, unfortunately!”
“Exporting insecurity” to Afghanistan; Asim Munir’s new plan?
In another short note, Tamim Asi wrote, referring to the history of his negotiations with Pakistani army commanders: “Pakistan is seeking to export insecurity and transfer the geography of war to Afghanistan. It doesn’t matter who is in power in Kabul.”
He went on to say that Pakistani generals have always used the Afghan wars as “cash cows” for their financial gains, and the investments of senior military families in the UAE, Australia, and Saudi Arabia are proof of this.
Asi recalled that the famous “Zarb-e-Azb” operation was one of the biggest money-making machines for former commanders such as Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Raheel Sharif.
According to him, Asim Munir is now pursuing a plan that aims to transfer the geography of the war from Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and other regions of Pakistan to Afghanistan in order to provide a new source of funding for the army through a new war.
Widespread consequences for Pakistan’s political and military structure and the balance of power in the region
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special envoy for Afghanistan peace, also wrote on his X account in response to these developments that numerous reports have been published about amending Article 243 of the Pakistani Constitution.
According to him, if these reforms are implemented, they may result in the following privileges for the army chief – without mentioning Munir directly by name –:
1. Remaining in uniform for the rest of his life;
2. The possibility of dismissal only through impeachment;
3. Assigning lifelong duties to the military official;
4. Enjoying complete legal immunity.
Khalizada has emphasized that this information is based on unofficial reports, but if true, it could have far-reaching consequences for Pakistan’s political and military structure and the balance of power in the region.
Outlook and Conclusion
The draft of Amendment 27 to the Constitution of Pakistan is on the agenda of the country’s legislative institutions, while analysts believe that its approval will place the army in a position above civil institutions and even the country’s constitution.
Inside Pakistan, opponents have described it as a dangerous step towards the militarization of politics and the weakening of democracy, while regionally, experts warn of its potential consequences for Islamabad's relations with Afghanistan and India. Although the draft has not yet reached its final stages, experts believe that even the proposal of such an amendment is a clear sign of the desire of the power structure in Pakistan to consolidate the position of the army as the central pillar of the country's government and foreign policy - a development that could open a new chapter of military and political tensions in South Asia.
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