General Asim Munir consolidates position through promotions, transfers as he completes one year

By Editor Nov24,2023 #Pakistan Army

A few days before General Asim Munir completes one year as the head of Pakistan Army, he is making moves to consolidate his position by bringing in confidantes close to him in powerful positions and keeping the distractors away.

Lt. Gen. Avais Dastgir, recently elevated to the rank of three-star general, has been appointed as the 38th Chief of General Staff (CGS), taking over from the retiring Lt. Gen. Muhammad Saeed.

The CGS, the second most influential position in the Pakistani military after the Army Chief, is responsible for overseeing operational and intelligence matters, with the Directorates of Military Operations and Military Intelligence under their command.

Gen. Dastgir’s promotion, having served in the 58th Cavalry Armoured Corps and as the former Director General of Military Operations, is seen as a sign of the Army Chief’s unwavering trust in his abilities. His immediate appointment as CGS following his promotion is an uncommon occurrence in the military, a precedent set by Gen. Bajwa with Lt. Gen. Bilal Akbar.

Gen. Dastgir, who has also worked alongside COAS Gen. Asim Munir during his tenure as Commander Gujranwala Corps, is perceived as an embodiment of policy continuity. His transition from DGMO to CGS indicates an acceleration of current policies, according to a retired lieutenant general.

Lt. Gen Imdad Hussain Shah was promoted and posted as the Corps Commander, Gujranwala. Lt Gen Shah was serving as DG (H) at ISI. As a two star general, he was DG at Strategic Plans Division and also served as GOC Infantry Division Okara. He has, as a brigadier, served as a peacekeeper with the UN forces in Congo.

Lt. Gen.Rahat Naseem was transferred from National Defence University, Islamabad to Commander 12 Corps at Quetta.As a two star general, he has served as IG FC KP and GOC Infantry Division. Prior to that, He was Chief of Staff of Mangla Corps as a Brigadier.

Lt. General Asif Ghafoor stands transferred as Commander 12 Corps Quetta to President NDU,Islamabad. He was a former DG, ISPR.

Lt. Gen Shakir Ullah Khattak, promoted and continue as Chairman Heavy Industries, Taxila. As a two star general, he served as DG Analysis ISI and GOC Infantry Division Miram Shah, Waziristan. Before that, he was serving as Brigade commander Peshawar. He is from the13th Lancers Armoured Corps.

Lt. General Tahir Hameed Shah, has been transferred from DG Weapons & Equipment to the Pakistan Ordnance Factory, Wah.

Lt. General Mohammad Aqeel, promoted and appointed as the Inspector General Communication & Information Technology (C&IT). He has commanded GOC 25 Mechanised Division, Malir, Karachi. As Major General he was DG Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) Directorate responsible for IT management. Since his promotion as Lt Gen he has been Inspector General Communication and IT, as well as Commander Pakistan Army Cyber Command.

November 23, 2023

Sources: various social media outlets

By Editor

Related Post

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *