The general with a desire to enhance military proficiency

LAHORE: Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa is known as an officer with extraordinary abilities, says the BBC.

The new army chief, Gen Bajwa, and his predecessor Gen Raheel Sharif have several commonalities in personal and professional respect. Just like Gen Raheel, he is known among his colleagues as open-minded officer and is always desirous of training and enhancing the expertise of army.

The BBC says some of the officers, who have previously worked with Gen Bajwa, are of the opinion that discussion on every topic could be held with him at any time. This quality makes him popular and exceptional among his associates.

The senior army officers, in their quest for keeping themselves above political affiliations, are generally seen avoiding discussing political issues not only with their close friends but also at private gatherings. But Gen Bajwa has quite different attitude in this respect.

Some of the officers, who worked with him, say that he not only has solid opinion on political issues but also doesn’t hesitate expressing them.

According to the BBC, Gen Bajwa is recognized as an officer having an extraordinary decision-making ability. This characteristic is also shared by both Gen Bajwa and Gen Raheel.

The outgoing army chief had expressed his quality by launching the North Waziristan operation – which had been delayed for several years – and playing a decisive role during the 2014 sit-in of Imran Khan.

Gen Bajwa, again just like Gen Raheel, takes keen interest in matters related to the army’s training and has played an vital role as the head of the army’s training branch.

Gen Bajwa has not only led Pakistan’s largest 10 Corps but also severed in it twice. He designed the recently held military exercises. Previously, he served as commandant of the Infantry School in Quetta.

Gen Bajwa belongs to the infantry’s Bloch Regiment and has served in the UN peace mission in Congo.