Babar Iftikhar

Babar Iftikhar
بابر افتخار
Official portrait, 2020, pictured as a Major General
Commander, V Corps
Assumed office
6 December 2022
PresidentArif Alvi
Preceded byMuhammad Saeed
Director General of ISPR
In office
1 February 2020 – 5 December 2022
Prime MinisterImran Khan
Shehbaz Sharif
Preceded byAsif Ghafoor
Succeeded byAhmed Sharif Chaudhry
Personal details
Children4 sons[1]
Alma mater
Military service
Allegiance Pakistan
Branch/servicePakistan Army
Years of service1990–present
RankLieutenant General
Unit6th Lancers (Watson's Horse)
Commands
Battles/warsOperation Zarb-e-Azb
AwardsHilal-i-Imtiaz (military)

Lieutenant General Babar Iftikhar (Urdu: بابر افتخار) HI(M) is a three-star rank general in the Pakistani Army. He was the former 21st director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) from 16 January 2020 to 6 December 2022.[3][4] He was commissioned in the Pakistan Army in 1990. He is also former General Officer Commanding 1st Armoured Division in Multan. He is the current commander of V Corps of the Pakistan Army which has its headquarters in Karachi.

Education[edit]

Babur Iftikhar attended the Army Burn Hall College in Abbottabad. He graduated from the Command and Staff College and later attended the Royal Jordanian Command & Staff College. After earning his initial degrees, he attended the National Defence University.[5][6]

Military career[edit]

Iftikhar was commissioned in the 6th Lancers (Watson's Horse) in March 1990.[7] He carries with him a rich command, staff and instructional experience. He served as Brigade Major at an armoured brigade, Brigadier Staff at an infantry division in North Waziristan (OAM) during Operation Zarb-e-Azb and as Chief of Staff at Corps headquarters. He was faculty of the Pakistan Military Academy and National Defense University, Islamabad.[8] In October 2022, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general.[9]

He is the third Director-General in the history of ISPR to be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in the Pakistan Army. [10] Others Include Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa[11] (Retired as Lieutenant General) and Major General Asif Ghafoor[12] (Now Lieutenant General and current President National Defence University, Islamabad ).

Beside, he is the second Director-General in the history of ISPR to head ISPR with a rank of Lieutenant General. The first officer who headed ISPR with a rank of Lieutenant General was Lt.General Asim Saleem Bajwa.[13]

Press-Conference with DG ISI[edit]

On October 27, 2022, Iftikhar along with Lieutenant General Nadeem Anjum, made a public appearance at a press conference. The two criticised former Prime Minister Imran Khan over his criticism of the military, motives behind anti-army remarks and portraying Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa as a “traitor” among his followers. [14]

Effective dates of promotion[edit]

Insignia Rank Date
Lieutenant General October 2022
Major General June 2018[15]
Brigadier
Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
Major
Captain
Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant 1990

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Who is new DG ISPR Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar? - Pakistan - Dunya News". dunyanews.tv. Archived from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Maj Gen Babur Iftikhar replaces Asif Ghafoor as DG ISPR". 16 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Pakistan military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor replaced, sent to command infantry division".
  4. ^ "Gen Iftikhar to head ISPR after Ghafoor's removal | Pakistan Today". www.pakistantoday.com.pk.
  5. ^ "Major General Babur Iftikhar, career profile of the new DG ISPR". Times of Islamabad. January 16, 2020.
  6. ^ "Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan". www.ispr.gov.pk.
  7. ^ "Maj Gen Babur Iftikhar replaces Asif Ghafoor as DG ISPR". 16 January 2020.
  8. ^ "Profile: Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar, Pakistan Army's new spokesperson | Pakistan". thenews.com.pk. 1988-09-09. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  9. ^ "12 Pak Army major generals promoted to lieutenant general rank". Dawn. 11 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan". www.ispr.gov.pk. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  11. ^ Haider, Mateen (2015-09-22). "Four army officers including DG ISPR Asim Bajwa made three-star generals". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  12. ^ "Ex-DG ISPR Asif Ghafoor among six major generals promoted to three-star rank". The Express Tribune. 2020-11-25. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  13. ^ "Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan". ispr.gov.pk. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  14. ^ "In rare public appearance, head of Pakistan's ISI slams ex-PM Khan for anti-army campaign". Arab News PK. 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  15. ^ "Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan".

External links[edit]