Indian Media Reports Anticipate Promotions Amid Pakistan Army Retirements
Indian media outlets are closely following developments regarding retirements and promotions within the Pakistan Army. According to a report by Rediff News, four lieutenant generals, including Lieutenant General Asif Ghafoor, President of the National Defence University (NDU), are among those who have retired.
The report suggests that three or four officers are expected to be promoted to the rank of lieutenant general. However, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has yet to make any official announcements regarding these retirements.
Rediff identifies several officers who allegedly retired, including Lieutenant General Akhtar Nawaz, former Corps Commander of Quetta Lieutenant General Asif Ghafoor, Chief of Logistics Staff Lieutenant General Saqib Mehmood Malik, and Defence Secretary Lieutenant General Muhammad Ali.
The report indicates that the Pakistan Army currently has 24 three-star generals, detailing their branch affiliations: 13 from infantry, two from engineering, one from air defense, five from armored corps, two from artillery, and one from electrical and mechanical engineers. This structure suggests the likelihood of three to four generals being promoted.
It’s important to note that the number of lieutenant generals typically ranges around 29, rather than 24 as stated in the report. Additionally, speculation surrounds potential further changes to the leadership team by Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir in the near future.
Last month, Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik assumed the role of Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence, and reports indicate he is closely aligned with the army chief. However, Rediff has inaccurately reported the designations of several army officers in its coverage.
