Qamar Javed Bajwa: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Former general and 10th Chief of Army Staff of (Pakistan)}}

| image = File:Qamar_Javed_BajwaGeneral Qamar Javed Bajwa.jpg

| caption = BajwaOfficial duringmilitary aportrait, meeting with [[Raheel Sharif]]2016

| battles =
{{plainlist|tree list}}

* [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]]

** [[Operation Zarb-e-Azb|Zarb-e-Azb]]

Originally from [[Gakhar Mandi]], [[Gujranwala District|Gujranwala ]], Bajwa was born into a [[PunjabisPunjabi Muslims|Punjabi]] [[Jat peopleMuslim|Jat]] family of the [[Bajwa]] clan in Karachi.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pakistan Has a New Army Chief. Here's What We Know About Him|url=https://thewire.in/external-affairs/pakistan-new-army-chief-heres-know|access-date=2021-05-01|website=The Wire}}</ref> Bajwa was educated at the [[F. G. Sir Syed College]] and [[Gordon College (Pakistan)|Gordon College]] in [[Rawalpindi]] before joining the [[Pakistan Military Academy]] in 1978. Bajwa was commissioned in 1980 in the 16th Battalion of the [[Baloch Regiment]]. Prior toBefore his appointment as the [[Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)|chief of army staff]], he served at the [[GHQ (Pakistan Army)|General Headquarters]] as the inspector general of the training and evaluation from September 2015 to November 2016 and as field commander of the [[X Corps (Pakistan)|X Corps]] from August 2013 to September 2015 which is responsible for the area along the [[Line of Control]] in [[Kashmir]]. In addition, he served as a brigadier in the [[MONUSCO|UN mission in Congo]] and as a brigade commander in 2007.

Towards the end of his career as army chief, tax details of Bajwa's family members, acknowledged as a "leak" by the Pakistani government,<ref name="dailytimes.com.pk">{{cite web |title=Dar orders probe into COAS family's tax record leakage |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/1030396/dar-orders-probe-into-coas-familys-tax-record-leakage/ |website=Daily Times |date=22 November 2022 |access-date=7 January 2023}}</ref><ref name="arabnews.pk">{{cite web |title=Finance minister orders probe into leak of wealth details of relatives of Pakistan army chief |url=https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2203576/pakistan |website=Arab News |date=21 November 2022 |access-date=7 January 2023}}</ref> were leaked to the press, alleging increases in the billions throughout his tenure.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-20 |title=Army Chief Qamar Bajwa's Family Became Billionaire within The Last Six Years |url=https://factfocus.com/politics/2966/ |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=Fact Focus |language=en-US}}</ref>

During his tenure, military intereferenceinterference in Pakistan's political apparatus reached a new high, despite Bajwa's claims of remaining apolitical.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shehzad |first= Rizwan |date=2022-12-04 |title=Gen Qamar's political legacy leaves much to be desired |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2389492/gen-qamars-political-legacy-leaves-much-to-be-desired |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

In 2016, [[Raheel Sharif]] dismissed rumours of seeking thean extension for his term.<ref>{{cite news|last1=|first1=|title=I don't believe in extension, will retire on the due date: Gen Raheel Sharif|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1235293|access-date=30 December 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=25 January 2016}}</ref> Initially, the race for the appointment for the army chief was rumoredrumoured between [[Zubair Mahmood Hayat|Zubair Hayat]] and [[Javed Iqbal Ramday|Javed Ramday]] who was close to the [[Sharif family|first family]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Lt General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, tipped to be Pakistan Army chief, visits China|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/world/world-news/lt-gen-hayat-tipped-to-be-pakistan-army-chief-visits-china-3083591/|access-date=30 December 2017|work=The Indian Express|date=15 October 2016}}</ref><ref name="Reuters, Pakistan Bureau in 2016">{{cite news|last1=Zehra-Malik|first1=Mehreen|title=As Pakistan army chief's tenure nears end, PM faces key choice|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-military-idUSKCN11Y04C|access-date=30 December 2017|work=Reuters|agency=Reuters, Pakistan Burea|date=2016}}</ref> However, prime minister [[Nawaz Sharif]] announced to appoint the-then senior most army general, Zubair Hayat as the [[Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee]].<ref>{{cite news|title=General Zubair Mahmood Hayat appointed CJCSC|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/121724-General-Zubair-Mahmood-Hayat-appointed-CJCSC|access-date=30 December 2017|work=www.geo.tv}}</ref>

On 29 November 2016, Sharif eventually announced to appoint Bajwa - the fourth by seniority, as the [[Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)|chief of army staff]], superseding two generals who were senior than him.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ahmed|first1=Ashfaq|title=Pakistan: General Qamar Javed Bajwa takes charge at a critical time|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/asia/pakistan/pakistan-general-qamar-javed-bajwa-takes-charge-at-a-critical-time-1.1937554|access-date=8 March 2017|work=Gulf News|date=29 November 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301224957/http://gulfnews.com/news/asia/pakistan/pakistan-general-qamar-javed-bajwa-takes-charge-at-a-critical-time-1.1937554|archive-date=1 March 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="dawn/27nov2016">{{cite news|title=PM picks Gen Qamar Bajwa to head army|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1298904/pm-picks-gen-qamar-bajwa-to-head-army|access-date=3 March 2017|work=Dawn|location=Pakistan|date=27 November 2016|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304035406/https://www.dawn.com/news/1298904/pm-picks-gen-qamar-bajwa-to-head-army|archive-date=4 March 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="indianexpress/29nov2016">{{cite news|title=General Qamar Javed Bajwa takes over as Pakistan's new army chief, vows to improve LoC tension|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/world/general-qamar-javed-bajwa-takes-over-as-pakistans-new-army-chief-vows-to-improve-situation-along-loc/|access-date=29 November 2016|work=The Indian Express|date=29 November 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129182011/http://indianexpress.com/article/world/general-qamar-javed-bajwa-takes-over-as-pakistans-new-army-chief-vows-to-improve-situation-along-loc/|archive-date=29 November 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/167866-Profile-of-Gen-Qamar-Javed-Bajwa|title=Profile of Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa|work=The News|access-date=27 November 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126224619/https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/167866-Profile-of-Gen-Qamar-Javed-Bajwa|archive-date=26 November 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="nytimes/26nov2016">{{cite news|last1=Masood|first1=Salman|title=Pakistan Names New Military Leader|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/26/world/asia/pakistan-names-new-military-leader.html|access-date=26 November 2016|work=The New York Times|date=26 November 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127083733/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/26/world/asia/pakistan-names-new-military-leader.html|archive-date=27 November 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> His strong [[Democracy in Pakistan|pro-democracy]] stance and views may have influenced his appointment as the army chief as noted by the media pundits.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pakistani Media on Why Qamar Bajwa Got One of The Country's Top Military Job|url=http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/general-qamar-bajwas-pro-democratic-credentials-earned-him-the-post-pak-media-1630798?pfrom=home-lateststories|access-date=28 November 2016|publisher=NDTV.com|date=28 November 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129021156/http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/general-qamar-bajwas-pro-democratic-credentials-earned-him-the-post-pak-media-1630798?pfrom=home-lateststories|archive-date=29 November 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[Reuters]] reported that Sharif picked Bajwa because of his low-key style.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Zahra-Malik|first1=Drazen Jorgic and Mehreen|title=Pakistan PM Sharif names General Bajwa as new army chief|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-pakistan-military-idUKKBN13L0KU|access-date=26 November 2016|agency=Reuters UK|date=26 November 2016|url-status=livedead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127023423/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-pakistan-military-idUKKBN13L0KU|archive-date=27 November 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He was also noted as the fourth oldest chief of army staff.<ref name="thenews/2dec2016">{{cite news|title=General Qamar Bajwa fourth oldest Pak Army chief|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/169231-General-Qamar-Bajwa-fourth-oldest-Pak-Army-chief|access-date=13 February 2017|work=The News|date=2 December 2016|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210084316/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/169231-General-Qamar-Bajwa-fourth-oldest-Pak-Army-chief|archive-date=10 February 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

On 25 July 25, 2018, [[2018 Pakistani general election|general elections]] were held in Pakistan. They have been alleged by some as the ‘dirtiest’ elections in Pakistan history <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44923565|title = Viewpoint: Pakistan's dirtiest election in years|work = BBC News|date = 23 July 2018}}</ref> with army under Bajwa being accused of manipulating the elections and engineering a victory for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf over army's challenger Pakistan Muslim League (N).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fair |first=C. Christine |date=2018-08-01 |title=Pakistan's Sham Election |work=Foreign Affairs |url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/pakistan/2018-07-27/pakistans-sham-election |access-date=2022-04-13 |issn=0015-7120}}</ref> However, the Election Commission of Pakistan rejected the claim;<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ghauri |first1=Irfan |title=CEC rejects rigging charges, rebuffs resignation calls |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1770643/1-cec-rejects-rigging-charges-rebuffs-resignation-calls/ |website=The Express Tribune |date=31 July 2018 |access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref> the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), a top electoral watchdog, acknowledged that there had been significant improvements in the election process,<ref>{{cite web |title=FAFEN satisfied with transparency of polls, urges ECP to allay opposition's concerns |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1767594/1-fafen-concerned-vote-counting-process-slow-announcement-results/ |website=The Express Tribune |date=27 July 2018 |access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref> and the European Union Election Observation Mission acknowledged that that no election rigging had been observed during the election day in general, although the latter did find a "lack of equality" in the elections.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hamdani |first1=Kazim |title=FAFEN satisfied with transparency of polls, urges ECP to allay opposition's concerns |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1767594/1-fafen-concerned-vote-counting-process-slow-announcement-results |website=The Express Tribune |date=27 July 2018 |access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref> Despite the opposition's allegations, it voluntarily decided not to boycott parliament, lending legitimacy to the electoral process via parliamentary participation.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tahir |first1=Zulqernain |title=PML-N unlikely to favour boycott of parliament |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1423615 |website=Dawn |date=29 July 2018 |publisher=Dawn News |access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Khan |first1=Rameez |title=PML-N decides against parliament boycott |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1769005/1-pml-n-ppp-leaders-weigh-future-course-action-polls/ |website=The Express Tribune |date=29 July 2018 |access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref> Recounts were conducted in a total of 94<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ghauri |first1=Irfan |title=ECP orders recount in 70 constituencies |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1769836/1-ecp-orders-recount-70-constituencies/ |website=The Express Tribune |date=30 July 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ECP okays recounting in 14 national, 10 provincial constituencies |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1769549/1-ecp-okays-recounting-14-national-10-provincial-constituencies/ |website=The Express Tribune |date=30 July 2018 |access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref> constituencies by the Election Commission, after which Khan's PTI emerged as the largest party in the National Assembly, winning 115 seats.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pakistan polls: PTI wins 115 NA seats as ECP releases final tally |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/pakistan-elections-2018/pakistan-polls-pti-wins-115-na-seats-ecp-releases-final-tally-1612483 |website=The Daily Star |date=28 July 2018 |access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref>

The former prime minister of Pakistan, [[Nawaz Sharif]] alleged that Bajwa was behind his [[Panama Papers case|disqualification]] from the prime minister's office by putting pressure on the judiciary and on the [[Supreme Court of Pakistan|Supreme Court]]. He also alleged that Bajwa was also involved in rigging the general election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1585386/%20Nawaz%20accuses%20COAS,%20ISI%20chief%20of%20orchestrating%20his%20ouster,%20bringing%20Imran%20to%20power|title=Nawaz accuses security establishment of orchestrating his ouster, bringing Imran to power|work=Dawn.com|author=Iqbal Mirza|date=17 October 2020 |access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref> Subsequently, [[Muhammad Safdar Awan]], son-in-law of [[Nawaz Sharif]] was arrested allegedly through pressure in the aftermath of [[Enforced disappearance of Mushtaq Mahar|enforced disappearance]] of [[Sindh Police]]'s provincial senior police officer Mushtaq Mahar.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Protests against Imran Khan, Pakistan Army explained|work=India Today|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/pakistan-protest-imran-khan-army-lahore-rape-case-bilawal-bhutto-maryan-nawaz-sharif-1734134-2020-10-22|access-date=22 October 2020}}</ref>

In April 2022, Bajwa publicly suggested at a security forum in Islamabad that Pakistan had been pushed into dependence on China.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pakistan's foreign policy reset hits a dead end |date=13 July 2022 |url=https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/pakistans-foreign-policy-reset-hits-a-dead-end/ |publisher=The Australian Strategic Policy Institute |access-date=13 July 2022}}</ref> Nevertheless, highlightingafter the [[University of Karachi bombing|attacksterrorist attack on Chinese nationals in Karachi]], ChinesePLA general [[Zhang Youxia]] asked Bajwa to stop what it called attacks on itsChinese nationals.,<ref>{{cite web |title=Stop attacks on Chinese nationals in Pakistan, Beijing tells Gen Bajwa |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/stop-attacks-on-chinese-nationals-in-pakistan-beijing-tells-gen-bajwa-122061300008_1.html |publisher=Business Standard |access-date=13 June 2022}}</ref> Bajwa vowed to enhance counter-terror cooperation with China.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pakistan, Chinese militaries vow to enhance counter-terror cooperation |date=12 June 2022 |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1694437 |publisher=Dawn}}</ref>

=== Controversies= ==

==== Ouster of Imran Khan as Prime Minister ====

==== TaxAssets Leaksbeyond the Means ====

Although army spokesmen rejected the claims as "baseless" "propaganda",<ref>{{cite web |last1=UR REHMAN |first1=LAIQ |title='MISLEADING, BLATANT LIES': ISPR SLAMS TAX RECORDS PROPAGANDA AGAINST COAS GEN BAJWA |url=https://arynews.tv/misleading-blatant-lies-ispr-slams-tax-records-propaganda-against-coas-gen-bajwa/ |website=ARY News |date=27 November 2022 |access-date=7 January 2023}}</ref> the country's tax bureau began probing over a dozen government officers,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Iqbal |first1=Mazhar |title=FBR WIDENS PROBE INTO COAS BAJWA FAMILY TAX RECORD LEAK |url=https://arynews.tv/gen-bajwas-tax-record-leak-fbr-includes-three-income-tax-officers/ |website=ARY News |date=26 November 2022 |access-date=7 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=FBR widens probe into tax record leak of COAS, family |url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40211051 |website=Business Recorder |date=27 November 2022 |access-date=7 January 2023}}</ref> and suspended two high-ranking officers, both in connection to the tax claims,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ansari |first1=Irshad |title=FBR suspends officials for leaking Bajwa family tax record |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2389090/fbr-suspends-officials-for-leaking-bajwa-family-tax-record |website=The Express Tribune |date=2 December 2022 |access-date=7 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Two FBR officers suspended over Gen Bajwa's tax record leak |url=https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/676505-Two-FBR-officers-suspended-over-Gen-Bajwa/'s-tax-record-leak |website=Dunya News |date=25 November 2022 |access-date=7 January 2023}}</ref> while the Pakistani government declared the tax leak by Noorani as illegal,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dilawar |first1=Ismail |title=Pakistan Orders Probe Into Leak After Report on Army Chief's Family Wealth |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-21/pakistan-orders-probe-after-report-on-army-chief-s-family-wealth?leadSource=uverify%20wall |website=Bloomberg |date=21 November 2022 |access-date=27 November 2022}}</ref> and announced that they had tracked down the persons responsible for what they termed as a leak<ref>{{cite web |title=Leakers of Bajwa family tax returns identified: Dar |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2022/11/22/two-officials-involved-in-leak-of-gen-bajwas-tax-details-identified-dar/ |website=Dawn |date=22 November 2022 |access-date=27 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=People behind leak of COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa's income tax records identified: Ishaq Dar |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/454068-people-behind-leak-of-coas-general-qamar-javed-bajwas-income-tax-records-identified-ishaq-dar |website=Geo News |access-date=7 January 2023}}</ref>- contrary to the claims of army spokesmen. In December 2022, the federal tax bureau formally charged three government officers for unauthorized access intoto the tax records of Mahnoor Sabir, daughter-in-law of Bajwa, and illegally shared that information.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Waleed |first1=Hamid |title=Bajwa's tax data: FBR lodges FIR against 3 officers |url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40215741/bajwas-tax-data-fbr-lodges-fir-against-3-officers |website=Business Recorder |date=21 December 2022 }}</ref> Following the announcement of the government's investigations, Ahmed Noorani claimed that the government of Pakistan, in particular the finance minister Ishaq Dar (who had labeled the data mentioned in the article as an "illegal and unwarranted leakage"<ref>{{cite web |titlename=Dar orders probe into COAS family's tax record leakage |url=https://"dailytimes.com.pk"/1030396/dar-orders-probe-into-coas-familys-tax-record-leakage/ |website=Daily Times |date=22 November 2022 |access-date=7 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |titlename=Finance minister orders probe into leak of wealth details of relatives of Pakistan army chief |url=https://www."arabnews.pk"/node/2203576/pakistan |website=Arab News |date=21 November 2022 |access-date=7 January 2023}}</ref>) had essentially authenticated Noorani's tax leaks by acknowledging the data as a "leak".<ref>{{cite web |title=Ahmed Noorani defends his story on Gen Bajwa's tax returns |url=http://www.journalismpakistan.com/ahmed-noorani-defends-his-story-on-gen-bajwas-tax-returns |website=Journalism in Pakistan |access-date=7 January 2023}}</ref>

=== Bajwa doctrine ===

[[File:221004-D-XI929-2001 (52404386087).jpg|thumb|U.S. secretary of defensedefence [[Lloyd Austin]] meets with Pakistani chief of army staff in Washington, D.C., on October 4, 2022]]

The term "Bajwa Doctrine" was coined by the [[Royal United Services Institute]] after Bajwa's address to the [[54th Munich Security Conference]] in 2018. This emphasised what he called "biting back hard" against threats from the [[Trump administration]].<ref name="doctrine20">{{cite news |title=Pakistan: Bajwa Doctrine 2.0 |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/pakistan-bajwa-doctrine-2020210329173121/ |work=ANI |date=March 30, 2021}}</ref> A second version of the doctrine was discussed with journalists in March 2018, stressing democracy, ensuring proper respect of the institutions of the state, eliminating terrorism, bringing terrorists into the mainstream, and viewing the devolution provisions of the [[Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan|eighteenth amendment]] with skepticismscepticism.<ref>{{cite news |title=Full text of COAS address at MSC Germany |url=https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/428271-Full-text-of-COAS-address-at-MSC-Germany |work=Dunya News |date=19 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Kamal Alam |title=The Bajwa Doctrine: The Pakistani Military Has Done More than Enough |url=https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/rusi-newsbrief/the-bajwa-doctrine-the-pakistani-military-has-done-more-than-enough |publisher=Royal United Services Institute |date=February 16, 2018}}</ref> He has urged his fellow citizens, especially the youth, to fight extremism, saying it is a key driving force for terrorism.<ref name="dawn/18May2017">"''[https://www.dawn.com/news/1333926%7Caccess-date=18 Army will fight terrorists, society should fight extremism: Gen Bajwa]''" ''Dawn'', 18 May 2017.</ref>

|[[Order of Military Merit (Jordan)|The Order of Military Merit]]<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2018-10-03 |title=Pakistan's army chief awarded top military honorhonour in Jordan |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1381811/pakistan |access-date=2022-03-28 |website=Arab News |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2018-10-02 |title=COAS General Qamar Javaid Bajwa awarded with a highest military award from King Abdullah II |url=https://timesofislamabad.com/02-Oct-2018/coas-general-qamar-javaid-bajwa-awarded-with-highest-military-award-from-king-abdullah-ii |access-date=2022-03-28 |website=Times of Islamabad |language=en}}</ref>