Rawalpindi
As part of the major reshuffle, Major General Babar Iftikhar on Thursday replaced Major General Ghafoor as the new Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Maj Gen Ghafoor has been appointed as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Pakistan Army’s 40th Infantry Division in Okara.
Major General Babar Iftikhar, who has taken charge as the new Director General of the Inter-Services Pakistan Relations, has a prolific career in the Armed Forces.
Maj Gen Iftikhar graduated from the National Defence University and Royal Command and Staff College in Jordan. He was commissioned in the Army in 1990. He is associated with Unit Six Lancer of Armed Corps.
Maj Gen Iftikhar was commanding an armour division in Multan. Maj Gen Ifthikhar has commanded the Infantry and Armed Brigades during the Operation Zarb-e-Azb. He also holds a remarkable experience for working as the Command and Staff.
In his latest tweet, the outgoing DG ISPR said, “Alhamdulillah, thanks to everyone I have remained associated with during the tenure. My very special thanks to Media all across. Can’t thank enough fellow Pakistanis for their love and support.” He also expressed best wishes to new DG ISPR for his success. Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor was appointed as the DG ISPR in December 2016. He had replaced Lt Gen Asim Bajwa.
According to the ISPR website, Maj Gen Ghafoor was commissioned on September 9, 1988, in 87 Medium Regiment. He is a graduate of Command & Staff College Quetta, Command & Staff College Bandung (Indonesia) and NDU Islamabad. He holds a master’s degree in strategic studies.
The general has held various staff, instructional and command assignments including Brigade Major Infantry Brigade, Assistant Military Secretary MS Branch, GHQ, Directing Staff Command & Staff College Quetta and Director Military Operations in Military Operations Directorate, GHQ.
He has commanded his parent unit in Operation Al-Mizan, Artillery Brigade at the Line of Control, Infantry Brigade on the eastern border and a Division at Swat, Malakand. Maj Gen Ghafoor is a recipient of the COAS Commendation Card for operations in Bajaur in 2008.—INP
