Raheel Sharif

General (R)
Raheel Sharif
NI(M) HI(M) LoM
Official military portrait, 2013
1st Commander of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition
Incumbent
Assumed office
29 May 2017
9th Chief of Army Staff
In office
29 November 2013 – 29 November 2016
PresidentMamnoon Hussain
Prime MinisterNawaz Sharif
Preceded byAshfaq Parvez Kayani
Succeeded byQamar Javed Bajwa
Inspector General of the Training and Evaluation
In office
October 2012 – November 2013
Commander XXX Corps, Gujranwala
In office
October 2010 – October 2012
Personal details
Born (1956-06-16) 16 June 1956 (age 68)
Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan
RelationsRaja Aziz Bhatti (Uncle) Shabbir Sharif (Brother)
Parent(s)Major Muhammad Sharif (father)
Fazl Begum (mother)[1]
ResidenceKunjah
EducationGarrison Boys High School, Lahore Cantt
Government College Lahore
Pakistan Military Academy
National Defense University
Military service
Allegiance Pakistan
Branch/service Pakistan Army
Years of service1976–2016
RankGeneral
Unit6th FF Regiment
Commands
Battles/wars
AwardsNishan-e-Imtiaz (Military)
Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military)
Order of King Abdulaziz
Legion of Merit
Order of Military Merit
Turkish Legion of Merit
Order of Military Merit

General Raheel Sharif NI(M) HI(M) LOM (Urdu: راحیل شریف; born 16th June 1956) is a retired four-star army general of the Pakistan Army who served as the ninth chief of army staff from 29 November 2013 to 29 November 2016.[2] After his retirement as Pakistan's army chief, he was appointed as the commander of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, a 41-nation alliance of Muslim countries headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.[3]

Under General Raheel Sharif's command, the Pakistan Army carried out anti-terrorism operations across the country. The most important of these was in North Waziristan, namely Operation Zarb-e-Azb which eradicated taliban strongholds in the region and stabilized the entire country.[4] He expanded the role of paramilitaries in Karachi which is widely credited with reducing the level of violence in Pakistan's commercial capital.[5] The Pakistani military under his command has also supported the democratically elected government on the federal level and the Baloch provincial and local government in ending the Balochistan insurgency by pursuing reconciliation[6] and integration of former militants back into mainstream Pakistani society.[7][8][9] General Sharif also developed a new brigade-level military unit to help protect and secure the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which runs through Balochistan province.[10] General Sharif helped to develop Pakistan's indigenous defence industry which resulted in the savings of more than $1.14 billion of Pakistan's forex, over a year and half time period.[11]

General Sharif achieved his objectives by strengthening the role of the military in affairs directly concerning national security and foreign policy, while leaving the civilian government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in control of social and economic policy.[12][13] and reconciled Pakistan with America by striking against militant groups near the Afghan border,[14] carrying out Pakistan's first joint military exercises with Russia,[15] and deepening relations with China.[16]

For the first time in twenty years, a general retired on time (without seeking extension of tenure) with General Sharif's retirement.[17][18] General Sharif said that he was "ready to serve Pakistan" even after his retirement.[19][20] General Sharif left a respected legacy in Pakistan. He is widely credited with reducing terrorism inside the country; violence in the country was reduced to its lowest level since 2006,[21] with an overall decline of 80% in terrorist attacks under his tenure.[22]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference dawn was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Mateen Haider (1 January 2013). "Lt Gen Raheel Sharif chosen as new army chief". Dawn. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  3. ^ "Pakistan allows General (Retd) Raheel Sharif to lead Saudi-led military alliance". geo.tv. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Zarb-e-Azb resulted into more secure, stable Pakistan: Army Chief Gen Raheel". Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  5. ^ "Karachi: 7 accused arrested in Rangers, police operation – Pakistan – Dunya News". 14 February 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  6. ^ Shahid, Saleem (29 June 2015). "Khan of Kalat being persuaded to return home". Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  7. ^ "People of Balochistan shunned externally-funded terrorists: COAS – Pakistan – Dunya News". 14 February 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  8. ^ "144 Baloch militants surrender weapons, accepting amnesty offer from government". Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  9. ^ Shah, Syed Ali (29 October 2015). "30 militants including two commanders surrender". Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  10. ^ Khan, Raza (12 August 2016). "15,000 troops of Special Security Division to protect CPEC projects, Chinese nationals". Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  11. ^ "Defence production saved forex worth $1.14b". The Express Tribune. 26 November 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  12. ^ Khan, M. Ilyas (23 November 2016). "Raheel Sharif: The army chief who ruled without a coup". BBC. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  13. ^ "Pakistan's Military Tightens Grip on Security Policy". Time. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  14. ^ "General Sharif convenes meeting with US Ambassador – Pakistan – Dunya News". 14 February 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  15. ^ Vice Admiral Anil Chopra (3 October 2016). "Has Russia lost goodwill in India by conducting military exercises with Pakistan?". Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  16. ^ "China, Pakistan to deploy warships to safeguard Balochistan port". 25 November 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  17. ^ "General Raheel Sharif's journey to success". geo.tv. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  18. ^ Nauman, Qasim (21 November 2016). "Pakistan Army Chief Raheel Sharif Starts Retirement Tour". Retrieved 29 May 2017 – via wsj.com.
  19. ^ "Injured war veterans are national heroes: Gen Raheel Sharif". The Express Tribune. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  20. ^ "Ready to serve Pakistan after retirement, says Gen Raheel". 25 November 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  21. ^ Ahmed, Amin (20 November 2016). "Global index records drop in terrorist activities in Pakistan during 2015". Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  22. ^ "70% decline in terrorist attacks in Pakistan". The Express Tribune. 9 September 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2017.