Babar Iftikhar
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 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 | ![]() |
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
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
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 Corp Commander Quetta).
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
On October 27, 2022 the than DG ISPR Maj General Babur Iftikhar along with Lieutenant General Nadeem Anjum heading the Pakistan’s powerful spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) made a public appearance and did a press conference which was mainly targeted at the ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan. The two slammed 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
Insignia | Rank | Date |
---|---|---|
![]() ![]() | Lieutenant General | October 2022 |
![]() ![]() | Major General | June 2018[15] |
![]() ![]() | Brigadier | |
![]() | Colonel | |
![]() | Lieutenant Colonel | |
![]() | Major | |
![]() | Captain | |
![]() | Lieutenant | |
![]() | Second Lieutenant | 1990 |
References
- "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".