Qamar Javed Bajwa takes over as Pakistan's Army chief, promises to improve LoC tension

General Qamar Javed Bajwa has wide experience of LoC affairs due to his extensive involvement with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and northern areas.

Rawalpindi: 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 tense situation at the Line of Control 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 at 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 an extension. There was speculation that the PML-N government would give him an extension at the eleventh 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 the 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.

His appointment coincides with the rising tensions and heavy exchange of fire at the LoC.

Analysts believe Bajwa's announcement that the LoC situation would improve might be a reconciliatory gesture towards India.

However, Gen Raheel was not so conciliatory in his final speech as the Army chief, as he cautioned India against adopting an aggressive stance in Kashmir.

Raheel, 60, said in recent months "India's increasing terrorism and aggressive stance" in Kashmir have "endangered" the region.

"India should know that mistaking our policy of patience for weakness would be dangerous," he said.

"This is the reality, that in South Asia, lasting peace and progress is impossible without solution of the Kashmir issue. For that, international community's special attention is necessary," he said.

He also stressed the need for institutions to work together for the nation's progress.

"It is important that all institutions work together against external threats and internal threats. For this, we will need to follow the National Action Plan in letter and spirit," Gen Raheel said.

"The Army will remain alert to threats, whether external or internal," Raheel said.

For regional peace, he said, issues should be resolved politically.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a major factor in ensuring regional peace, he said.

"The departure of the first cargo from Gwadar port has shown this journey cannot be halted now," he warned. "The time is here now that the enemies of CPEC stop working against it and become a part of it."

Bajwa was earlier serving as Inspector General of the Training and Evaluation and also commanded the famed 10 Corps, the army's largest, which is responsible for the area along the Line of Control (LoC).

As a major general, Bajwa led the Force Command Northern Areas. He also served in the 10 Corps as a lieutenant colonel. He also served with a UN mission in Congo as a brigade commander alongside former Indian Army chief Gen Bikram Singh, who was also there as a division commander.

The new Army chief has wide experience of LoC affairs due to his extensive involvement with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and northern areas.

According to reports, General Bajwa's "pro-democracy credentials" and his low-profile influenced the Prime Minister to appoint him to the powerful post of army chief superseding four top generals.

The military has been in charge of the country for more than half of Pakistan's nearly 70-year history since independence from Britain.