ISLAMABAD, Nov 29: Lt Gen Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmad was on Friday named as the army’s new Chief of General Staff (CGS).

The appointment of the CGS was one of the first decisions taken by the new Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif on his first day in office.

Lt Gen Ahmad, currently vice chief of general staff (VCGS), will replace Gen Rashad Mahmood who has been promoted as a four-star general and appointed Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.

Lt Gen Ahmad’s elevation as a three-star general took place in August and he remained VCGS for a few weeks before being assigned the office of the Chief of General Staff (CGS).

As a major general, he served as the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) for over two years.

Lt Gen Ahmad will be the 31st CGS, one of the most prestigious positions in the army. Nine of his predecessors went on to become either Army Chief or Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, including his immediate predecessor.

The CGS is assigned the operational and intelligence matters at the General Headquarters with directorates of Military Operations and Military Intelligence falling under his purview.

Lt Gen Ahmed, according to a defence analyst, is a battle hardened and seasoned officer, who led successful military operations in Swat. He also served as chief of staff of Mangla Corps besides leading the Operations Directorate for two years.