Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani - AFP Photo

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Friday appointed Major General Asim Bajwa as the new director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) and spokesman for the Pakistan army, DawnNews reported.

 Major General Athar Abbas, the incumbent of the office, is due to retire in June, 2012.

Bajwa was posted in Dera Ismail Khan as a general officer commanding for the past two years.

Under Bajwa’s leadership, the army conducted military operations in the  South Waziristan tribal region to eliminate militancy and restore peace.

Prior to that, Bajwa served as the deputy military secretary under Pervez Musharraf.

Major General Asim Bajwa will take on responsibilities of the new office after Abbas retires in June.