Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa Given 3-Year Extension by Imran Khan Government Amid Tensions With India Over 'Kashmir Issue'

Islamabad, August 19: Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa was given a three-year extension by the Imran Khan government on Monday amid rising tensions with India. General Bajwa assumed the Office as Pakistan’s 10th Chief of Army Staff on November 29, 2016, succeeding the then Chief General Raheel Sharif. The decision to elevate Gen Bajwa to the position of Pakistani Army Chief was taken by the then President Mamnoon Hussain on the advice of the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Pakistan Army Chief Javed Qamar Bajwa Approves Death Penality For 12 Terrorists; Confirms Imprisonment for Six Others.

The Pakistan government issued a notification on August 19, which states, “General Qamar Javed Bajwa is appointed Chief of Army Staff for another term of three years from the date of completion of current tenure. The decision has been taken in view of the regional security environment.” Pakistan Army Under General Qamar Javed Bajwa's Leadership Seeks Better Ties with India: Report.

Imran Khan Government's Notification:

Government has granted an extension of three years in the tenure of Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa. pic.twitter.com/oSCImgBFKl

— Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) August 19, 2019

The decision to extend the Pakistan Army chief’s tenure has come at a time when there is increasing tension between Pakistan and India. Last week, the 10th Pakistani Army chief issued a warning that his troops were prepared to "go to any extent" to help Kashmiris after the Narendra Modi government diluted the Article 370 to scrap special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Article 370 Scrapped: Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa Calls Meeting of Pak Military Top Brass on Kashmir.

Gen Bajwa was educated at the Sir Syed College and Gordon College in Rawalpindi before joining the Pakistan military Academy in 1978. He was commissioned in 1980 in the 16th Battalion of the Baloch Regiment.

Prior to his appointment as the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan Army, he served at the Army General Headquarters as the Inspector General of the Training and Evaluation from September 22, 2015, to November 29, 2016. Gen Bajwa also commanded the X Corps, which is responsible for the area along the Line of Control at Kashmir.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 19, 2019 05:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).