General Qamar Javed Bajwa, an expert in PoK affairs, on Tuesday took over as Pakistan’s new Army chief succeeding Gen Raheel Sharif and promised to improve the situation at the line of Control (loC) soon.
Gen Raheel handed over the command of world’s sixth- largest Army by troop numbers to 57-year-old Bajwa at a ceremony held in the Army Hockey Stadium, close to the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday appointed Bajwa as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) by elevating him to the rank of a four-star general.
Raheel in January had declared that he would not seek extension. There was speculation that the PMl-N Government would give him extension at the 11th hour citing reasons that he was needed by the country to lead the war on terror. The post of the army chief is the most powerful in Pakistan.
After taking charge as the COAS from Raheel, Bajwa spoke to reporters. “The situation at the loC will improve soon,” he was quoted as saying by Geo News.
Bajwa sought support from the media to play a role in the keeping the morale of troops high. He said he had a heavy responsibility on his shoulders. Bajwa took over the command of the army in garrison city of Rawalpindi, where outgoing military chief Raheel handed over the symbolic baton at an impressive ceremony.
Several high level military and civilian officials attended the ceremony during which national songs and war anthems were played by traditional military bands.
Analysts believe Bajwa’s announcement that the loC situation would improve might be a reconciliatory gesture towards India.