Maj-Gen Asif Ghafoor may return as DG ISI in the future, claims journalist
Lahore: The Pakistan Army on Thursday replaced its spokesman (DG ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor with Major General Babar Iftikhar in a major reshuffle that remained subject of Twitter discussion the whole day.
General Asif Ghafoor, who served as the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) for three years have, been transferred to 40th Infantry Division as General Officer Commanding (GOC).
The appointment sparked a fierce debate over what led to his transfer. While critics saw what they called Ghafoor’s removal as their victory, people aware of military appointments said it was nothing more than a routine transfer.
A Twitter users, while commenting on the matter, said that command of a division is mandatory to be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, suggesting that Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor’s transfer has paved the way for his promotion.
Dunya News TV’s Investigation Editor Tariq Habib claimed Asif Ghafoor may be appointed as Director General of country’s principal intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), in the future.
He, however, did not elaborate on what made him make such a claim.
Who is Major General Asif Ghafoor
He was commissioned on 9 Sep 1988 in 87 Medium Regiment. He is graduate of Command & Staff College Quetta, Command & Staff College Bandung (Indonesia) and NDU Islamabad. He holds master’s degree in strategic studies.
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.
Gen Ghafoor has commanded his parent unit in Operation Al-Mizan, Artillery Brigade on Line of Control, Infantry Brigade on Eastern Border and a Division at Swat, Malakand.
He is recipient of COAS Commendation Card for operations in Bajaur during 2008. He served as DG ISPR since December 2016.