Major-General Babar Iftikhar appointed as new DG ISPR

Maj-Gen Asif Ghafoor has been posted as GOC Okara

The Pakistan Army on Thursday announced the posting of the service's new spokesperson.

Major-General Babar Iftikhar has been posted as the new director-general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) and replaces incumbent Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor.

Maj Gen Iftikhar was commanding an armour division in Multan. Maj Gen Ghafoor has now been posted as general officer commanding (GOC) Okara.

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.
Best wishes to new DG ISPR for his success.#PakArmedForcesZindabad#PakistanZindabad

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) January 16, 2020

Thanks for your love & support. Stay strong, continue doing your bit for Pakistan.Stay blessed
آپکی محبت اورحمایت کاشکریہ۔ مضبوط رہتے ہوۓ پاکستان کے لئے اپنا کام جاری رکھیں۔ Stay blessed.

— Asif Ghafoor (@peaceforchange) January 16, 2020

Who is Major General Babar Iftikhar

Maj Gen Iftikhar was commissioned in 6 Lancers in March 1990. A graduate of Command and Staff College Quetta, National Defence University Islamabad and the Royal Command and Staff College Jordan, he has significant experience in command, staff and instructional roles with in the Pakistan Army.

He has served as a brigade major in an armoured brigade, brigadier staff in an infantry division in North Waziristan. He also served as a chief of staff in a corps headquarters. The senior officer has also commanded and armoured brigade and an infantry brigade in North Waziristan during Operation Zarb e Azab.

Gen Iftikhar also served on the faculty of Pakistan Military Academy and National Defence University Islamabad.

In November 2019, two major generals — including Ali Amir Awan and Mohammad Saeed — were promoted to the three-star rank.

The newly-promoted Lt General, Ali Amir Awan, was posted as Inspector General Communication and Information Technology while Lt General Muhammad Saeed was appointed as National Defence University (NDU) president.

Lt General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, who was serving as Adjutant General at the GHQ, was appointed as CGS. The CGS heads both the army’s operational and intelligence directorates.

The position was earlier held by CJCSC General Nadeem Raza.



Lt Gen Shaheen Mazhar Mehmood, who was previously commanding Peshawar Corps, was appointed as Commander Mangla Corps, which is one of the strike formations of Pakistan Army.

According to the military’s media wing, Lt Gen Nauman Mahmood was appointed as Commander Peshawar Corps. He was previously serving as Inspector General Communications & Information Technology (IG C&IT) at the GHQ.