Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor transferred out of ISPR in major reshuffle

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Army on Thursday announced the posting of its new spokesperson, replacing Major General Asif Ghafoor with Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar as the director-general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Maj Gen Ghafoor’s services have been transferred to the 40th Infantry Division (Okara), where he will serve as the general officer commanding (GOC).

"Thanks to everyone I have remained associated with during the tenure," Maj Gen Ghafoor wrote on Twitter from the @OfficialDGISPR handle as news of his transfer broke. He had headed the military's media wing since December 2016.

"My very special thanks to Media all across. Can’t thank enough fellow Pakistanis for their love and support.

"Best wishes to [the] new DG ISPR for his success," he added.

He also tweeted from his personal Twitter account, expressing gratitude towards the people for the love and support he received during his tenure as the DG ISPR.

"Stay strong, continue doing your bit for Pakistan. Stay blessed," he wrote.

Maj Gen Ghafoor was posted as the DG ISPR in December 2016, replacing Lt Gen Asim Bajwa as the head of the military's media wing. 

Ghafoor was commissioned into the Pakistan Army on September 9, 1988, in the 87 Medium Regiment. He is a graduate of the Command and College Quetta, Staff College Bandung (Indonesia), and the National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad.

"The general has served on various staff, instructional, and command assignments to include 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."

Who is new DG ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar?

According to the ISPR, Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar studied from the Quetta Law College and graduated from NDU Islamabad, where he also taught as faculty member later on. The new DG ISPR is also a graduate from the Royal Jordanian Command and Staff College (RJCSC).

Apart from teaching at the NDU, the major general also taught at the Pakistan Military Academy.

The ISPR said Maj Gen Iftikhar has vast experience in command, staff, and instruction. He also served as a brigade major and brigade staff for an infantry division in North Waziristan.

During operation Zarb-e-Azb, Maj Gen Iftikhar also commanded the armoured and infantry brigades.