A tribute to Major General Asif Ghafoor

On Thursday, Major General Asif Ghafoor was replaced by Major General Babar Iftikhar as the new DG ISPR, according to the media wing of the Pakistan Army. His services have been transferred to 40 Division Okara. Asif Ghafoor wrote on twitter: “Thanks to everyone I have remained associated with during the tenure; my very special thanks to media all across. Can’t thank enough fellow Pakistanis for their love and support. Best wishes to new DG ISPR for his success.” Major General Asif Ghafoor is a graduate of the Command & Staff College Quetta,Command & Staff College Bandung (Indonesia) and NDU Islamabad. He was commissioned on September 9, 1988. He was posted as the DG ISPR in December 2016, and the way he performed his duties during his tenure diligently and forcefully he deserves all the superlatives. He was awarded Hilal-i-Pakistan for outstanding services rendered by him.
All generals in Pakistan army are competent and downright professional due to training and meritocracy in the military, which fact is acknowledged even by adversaries. Commenting on Pakistan’s ISPR, India’s National Cyber Security Coordinator Lieutenant General Rajesh Pant (retd) Lt Gen (retd) praised outgoing DG ISPR for his information warfare tactics. He said: “After the United States, Pakistan is the only military in the world that has a pro-active independent defense authority for countering and building a narrative from its defense. It’s indeed a very complex job, especially in the 21st century”. He stressed the need for a unified public relations command for the three wings of the Indian armed forces to compete with Pakistan in narrative warfare. Yet he concluded: “Try it… you ain’t get attention like ISPR… it will take 10 to 15 years for India to develop something like ISPR. Mark my words!”
His predecessor Asim Saleem Bajwa is said to have revamped the ISPR, whereas Major General Asif Ghafoor has taken the organization to new highs by intelligently countering the narratives of enemies abroad and enemies within. He interacted with the media, which is acknowledged by all and sundry. For him it was a 24-hour job; he interacted with the journalists as well as domestic and international news channels officials. The US and India stepped up their efforts to sabotage CPEC; Since Military keeps the people informed through press releases and press conferences by DG ISPR, enemies of Pakistan did not succeed. Last year, COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa had pointed out the threats from hybrid war. He had cautioned that subversive phase of the unannounced war against Pakistan was initiated by the country’s enemies. Since efforts were being made to tackle terrorism and sabotage phase, he was confident to defeat the enemies.
The nation indeed is aware of tremendous sacrifices rendered by the armed forces, and appreciates them. It has to be admitted that successes of Pakistan armed forces are due to their professionalism, courage, conviction and determination; and of course support of the nation. Unfortunately, some palmed-off media men and unconscionable political elements criticized Pakistan military on one pretext or another to appease their masters. When the terrorists had attacked Pakistan’s General Headquarters and other sensitive installations, the US and the West propagated that Pakistan’s army was incapable of securing the nukes, and some so-called liberals followed suit. But Pakistan has proved them as well as their perception wrong, as what Pakistan’s armed forces achieved during war on terror even the best war machine (US and NATO) could not achieve in Afghanistan during the last19 years.