Lieutenant General Babar Iftikhar (Urdu: بابر افتخار) HI(M) is a three-star general in the Pakistan 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.
Babar Iftikhar | |
|---|---|
بابر افتخار | |
 Official portrait, 2020, pictured as a Major General | |
| Commander, V Corps | |
| Assumed office 6 December 2022 | |
| President | Arif Alvi |
| Preceded by | Muhammad Saeed |
| Director General of ISPR | |
| In office 1 February 2020 – 5 December 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Imran Khan Shehbaz Sharif |
| Preceded by | Asif Ghafoor |
| Succeeded by | Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry |
| Personal details | |
| Children | 4 sons[1] |
| Alma mater |
|
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Pakistan |
| Branch/service | Pakistan Army |
| Years of service | 1990–present |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Unit | 6th Lancers (Watson's Horse) |
| Commands | |
| Battles/wars | Operation Zarb-e-Azb |
| Awards | Hilal-i-Imtiaz (military) |
Education
editBabur 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
editIftikhar 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, Commander 9 Armoured Brigade at 6th Armoured Division (Pakistan), 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
editOn 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 | June 2013 |
 |
Colonel | Direct Promoted to Brigadier rank. |
 |
Lieutenant Colonel | 2007 |
| |
Major | March 1998 |
 |
Captain | March 1993 |
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Lieutenant | August 1990 |
_Pakistan_Army.svg){kind=small} |
Second Lieutenant | 1990 |
References
edit- ^ "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.
- ^ "Maj Gen Babur Iftikhar replaces Asif Ghafoor as DG ISPR". 16 January 2020.
- ^ "Pakistan military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor replaced, sent to command infantry division".
- ^ "Gen Iftikhar to head ISPR after Ghafoor's removal | Pakistan Today". www.pakistantoday.com.pk.
- ^ "Major General Babur Iftikhar, career profile of the new DG ISPR". Times of Islamabad. January 16, 2020.
- ^ "Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan". www.ispr.gov.pk.
- ^ "Maj Gen Babur Iftikhar replaces Asif Ghafoor as DG ISPR". 16 January 2020.
- ^ "Profile: Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar, Pakistan Army's new spokesperson | Pakistan". thenews.com.pk. 1988-09-09. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
- ^ "12 Pak Army major generals promoted to lieutenant general rank". Dawn. 11 October 2022.
- ^ "Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan". www.ispr.gov.pk. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ Haider, Mateen (2015-09-22). "Four army officers including DG ISPR Asim Bajwa made three-star generals". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ "Ex-DG ISPR Asif Ghafoor among six major generals promoted to three-star rank". The Express Tribune. 2020-11-25. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ "Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan". ispr.gov.pk. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan".