India has sharply criticized Pakistan for granting lifetime immunity to its newly appointed Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Field Marshal Asim Munir, calling it a “constitutional coup” at the United Nations.
Speaking at a UN Security Council open debate, India’s representative, Parvathaneni Harish, said Pakistan should “introspect about the rule of law” after the Shehbaz Sharif government amended the constitution to give Munir extraordinary powers. The 27th Amendment, passed in November 2025, effectively consolidated military authority and reduced civilian oversight over the armed forces.
Under the amendment, Munir now heads all three branches of Pakistan’s military Army, Navy, and Air Force and has oversight of the National Strategic Command, which controls the country’s nuclear arsenal and missile systems. The lifetime immunity granted to Munir is equivalent to that of Pakistan’s president, shielding him from any legal prosecution. Similar protections have also been extended to the Air Force and Navy chiefs.
“This move allows the armed forces to engineer a constitutional coup,” Harish said, stressing the dangers of concentrating unchecked power in the military. India’s criticism highlighted concerns about Pakistan’s democratic institutions and the growing influence of its military in governance.
The new CDF position, which is held for five years, marks a historic shift in Pakistan’s civil-military balance, giving Munir unprecedented authority over national security and military operations. India’s comments at the UN reflect wider apprehensions about stability in South Asia and the role of militaries in political affairs.
Observers say the development could have long-term implications for Pakistan’s governance, civil-military relations, and regional security, particularly given the country’s nuclear capabilities.
