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President Confers Highest Military Honor on Strategic Commander
President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the conferment of the Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) on Commander National Strategic Command General Syed Aamer Raza, the President’s office announced on Friday .
The approval comes a week after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif promoted then Lieutenant General Aamer Raza to the rank of four-star general and appointed him as Commander National Strategic Command, one of the country’s most significant strategic positions . General Raza previously received the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) and the Sitara-i-Basalat for his distinguished service .
About General Aamer Raza
Commissioned into the Pakistan Army in 1988, General Aamer Raza is a graduate of the Command and Staff College, Quetta, and the National Defence University, Islamabad. He also holds a degree in International Relations from the University of Nottingham .
During his military career, he has served as:
- Commander IV Corps, Lahore
- Chairman Heavy Industries Taxila
- Chief of General Staff at General Headquarters (assumed January 2025)Â
Strategic Importance of the Appointment
The office of Commander National Strategic Command was created through the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which introduced major changes to the military’s chain of command . Under the new framework, the post assumes the role of nuclear manager previously held by the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, making it one of the country’s most significant strategic appointments .
Under the amendment, the appointment, reappointment and extension of the Commander National Strategic Command are made on the recommendation of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) , a position also created under the 27th Constitutional Amendment to establish a unified military command structure . The Pakistan Army Act further states that decisions regarding the appointment cannot be challenged before any court .
Official Recognition and Response
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated General Aamer Raza on his promotion and appointment, expressing confidence in his ability to discharge his new responsibilities . The Nishan-i-Imtiaz is one of Pakistan’s highest civilian and military awards, conferred for exceptional service to the nation.
