ISLAMABAD/RAWAL PINDI: The United States on Sunday welcomed the appointment of the chief of army staff (COAS) and said it looks forward to continue working with General Qamar Bajwa.
In a statement, the US Embassy also congratulated General Raheel Sharif and his family upon the conclusion of his three-year appointment.
“General Raheel has been a respected partner throughout his tenure as the army chief. We appreciate his leadership in combating terrorism in Pakistan and across the region, and his support for Pakistani civilian governance and institutions. He has demonstrated an impressive commitment to the peace, security, and well-being of the Pakistani people,” the statement added.
The US Embassy also felicitated newly appointed Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman (CJCSC) General Zubair Mahmood Hayat and recognised the dedicated service of General Rashad Mahmood.
Meanwhile, rehearsal for the change of command of COAS ceremony is in full swing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa stated in a tweet on Sunday.
Newly appointed COAS General Qamar Bajwa will take over the command from General Raheel Sharif at a ceremony to be held on Tuesday at the General Headquarters (GHQ).
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, Gen Bajwa was commissioned in the 16 Baloch Regiment on October 24, 1980. He is a graduate of the Canadian Army Command and Staff College, Toronto, Canada, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, USA and National Defence University, Islamabad. He has been an instructor at School of Infantry and Tactics, Quetta, Command and Staff College, Quetta and the NDU. He has been a brigade major of an infantry brigade and chief of staff of Rawalpindi Corps. He has commanded 16 Baloch Regiment, an infantry brigade, and has commanded Infantry Division in Northern Areas (Commander FCNA). He has also commanded the Pakistani contingent in Congo. He has commanded Rawalpindi Corps, and was until now the inspector general of training and evaluation at the GHQ.
General Zubair Mahmood Hayat was commissioned in the Artillery Regiment on October 24, 1980. He is a graduate of Fort Sill Oklahoma, USA, Command and Staff College Camberley United Kingdom and National Defence University, Islamabad. He has wide experience of command, staff and instructional appointments. In the meantime, it is clarified that the COAS-designate General Bajwa has zero presence on social media.
All facebook/twitter or other SM platforms ids and accounts in his name are fake. Separately, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif visited his native town of Kujah and opened the newly-built Shabbir Sharif Hospital.
According to ISPR, notables of the area were present on the occasion. The COAS also took a round of various departments of the hospital.
He met the patients, inquired after their health and prayed for their early recovery.
