New Delhi: The Pakistan army has begun rolling out a significant round of senior-level appointments following the promotion of a batch of brigadiers to major general in July, with several newly promoted officers moving into key intelligence, internal-security and field commands.
Analysts closely following the key appointments said that sensitive posts within the security establishment are being filled with officers considered loyal to army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and those who have shown exceptional field work.The key appointments include those to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence, Frontier Corps and major infantry divisions, which are crucial to future leadership.
Among the most visible appointments is that of Maj Gen Adil Iftikhar Warriach as Director General Military Intelligence (DG MI), replacing Maj Gen Wajid Aziz, who is a strong contender to become DG, ISI.
Warriach, a 92 Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Long Course officer, was serving as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 7 Infantry Division at Miranshah in North Waziristan. Sources explained that this is significant because he is coming directly from field-command experience in one of Pakistan’s key counterterrorism theatres into the military-intelligence set-up.
Three major appointments in ISI
While the appointment of DG, MI grabs the headline, the sources underlined that the reshuffle also sees three major generals move into senior and key appointments in the ISI with ramifications for India as well.
Maj Gen Jawwad Riaz, a 90 PMA Long Course officer from 11 Baloch, is being moved from his position as Director General Pakistan Coast Guards in Karachi to DG, Personnel in the ISI.
Replacing him at the Coast Guards is Maj Gen Atif Rafique, a newly promoted officer from the 95 PMA Long Course and 33 Punjab.
Maj Gen Sajid Mehmood, another 95 PMA Long Course officer from 32 Punjab Regiment, has been appointed DG, Z in the ISI. The Z branch looks after Frontier Works Organisation, China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and some tech-related matters.
Maj Gen Muhammad Shamriaz Khan, a 90 PMA Long Course artillery officer, who was serving as Director General, Pakistan Rangers Sindh, has been moved to DG, S in the ISI. His replacement is expected to be announced separately.
S branch, also known as Special Ops Div, looks after special operations and proxies in the entire neighbourhood and closely works with the H branch which stands for Hindustan. H Branch is responsible for Border Action Team and terrorism focussed on India.
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Balochistan gets 2 FC commands
A major element of the changes is the reorganisation of senior command appointments in the restive Balochistan that has seen severe human rights violations.
Maj Gen Zafar Iqbal, promoted in July from the 95 PMA Long Course and 24 Azad Kashmir Regiment, has been appointed Inspector General, Frontier Corps South Balochistan, replacing Maj Gen Bilal Sarfaraz.
At the same time, Maj Gen Ahmed Farhan, also promoted in July and from the 95 PMA Long Course and 26 Baloch Regiment, was appointed the first Inspector General of the newly raised Frontier Corps West Balochistan.
The creation of the new western FC command is significant because Balochistan remains one of the principal security theatres for the Pakistani military and paramilitary forces, with the province also bordering Afghanistan and Iran.
Changes in major infantry formations
The reshuffle extends to several important field formations. Maj Gen Zill-e-Husnain, a 93 PMA Long Course officer from the artillery, was appointed GOC 15 Infantry Division, headquartered in Sialkot, replacing Maj Gen Sajid Amin Awan.
His appointment is notable because he becomes the second artillery officer in succession to command the formation.
Maj Gen Waqas Qureshi, promoted in July from the 95 PMA Long Course and 38 Frontier Force Regiment, will take over as GOC 14 Infantry Division at Okara, replacing Maj Gen Waseem Iftikhar Cheema.
Maj Gen Khurram Shabir, a 92 PMA Long Course officer from 35 Azad Kashmir Regiment, was appointed GOC 17 Infantry Division under 1 Corps at Kharian, replacing Maj Gen Azhar Yasin.
Another July promotee, Maj Gen Hassan Mehdi, from 15 Punjab Regiment and the 95 PMA Long Course, has been appointed Chief of Staff, Central Command.
More appointments still to come
The current changes are only the beginning of a larger personnel churn triggered by the July promotion cycle.
Of the 13 infantry brigadiers promoted to major generals in July, only six have so far received new appointments, according to the information available. The remaining seven are expected to be assigned subsequently.
The movement is even more pronounced among other arms.
All six artillery brigadiers promoted to major generals are yet to receive their higher appointments, while four armoured officers, two each from air defence, signals and aviation, four engineers, and one ordnance officer are also awaiting postings.
This means the army is likely to see another round of appointments at the major-general level, the sources said.
The present round is, therefore, important not merely because of the individual appointments but because it could set off a wider reorganisation across Pakistan army headquarters and field formations.
More changes are expected in Corps Commander and senior GHQ appointments, with positions such as DG, ISI and DG, ISPR also potentially affected as the chain of postings unfolds.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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