Raheel Sharif

General Raheel Sharif NI(M) HI(M) LOM (Urdu: راحیل شریف; born 16 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-in-chief of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, a 41-nation alliance of Muslim countries headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.[3]

General (R)
Raheel Sharif
NI(M) HI(M) LoM
General Raheel Sharif
Commander-In-Chief of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition
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
Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan
RelationsRaja Aziz Bhatti (Uncle) Shabbir Sharif (Brother)
Parent(s)Major Muhammad Sharif (father)
Fazl Begum (mother)[1]
ResidenceKunjah
Alma materNational 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

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]

Early life

General Raheel Sharif was born in Quetta, capital of Pakistan's Balochistan province. He belongs to a Punjabi Bhatti Rajput family with roots in Punjab, in the town of Kunjah, Gujrat.[23][24][25] He has a prominent military background,[1] and is the son of (late) Major Muhammad Sharif.[1] He is the youngest sibling among three brothers and two sisters.[26] his elder brother Major Shabbir Sharif (28 April 1943 – 6 December 1971) was a Pakistan Army officer who was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Haider during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Shabbir Sharif is regarded as the highest decorated military officer of the Pakistan Army who received both the Nishan-e-Haider (1971) and Sitara-e-Jurat (1965), and received the Sword of Honour at Pakistan Military Academy upon graduation. His second brother, Captain Mumtaz Sharif, served in Pakistan Army and for his bravery in saving soldiers from a burning tank during an exercise accident, was awarded Sitara-e-Basalat, he received an early retirement due to his injuries.[23] From his mother's side, he is related to Major Raja Aziz Bhatti, another Nishan-e-Haider recipient, who was declared as the martyr of Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 by Pakistan.[27] Raheel Sharif is married and has three children, two sons and a daughter.[1]

Military service

Sharif received his formal education from the Government College in Lahore and afterward attended the 54th long course (L/C) of Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) . After his passing out in October 1976, he was commissioned into the 6th Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment, where his elder brother had also served. He served as an adjutant to the Pakistan Military Academy and joined an infantry brigade in Gilgit. He has the distinction of commanding two infantry units, 6FF and 26FF as a Lt. Colonel and also as an Acting Brigade Commander in Sialkot during 1999 Kargil War. During the Army monitoring of 2000 he was given control of Gujranwala district and is credited for bringing substantial administrative and social reforms to the area. As a Brigadier, he commanded two infantry brigades.[1] In 2001, he was appointed Chief of Staff of 30 Corps Gujranwala. He was later posted as Chief of Staff at Corps Headquarters Quetta, Balochistan. In 2004 he was selected to join the prestigious Royal College of Defence Studies, UK where he graduated with distinction.[28]
In 2005 he was promoted to the rank of Major General and assigned command of the coveted 11th Infantry Division in Lahore. After commanding the division for over two years, he was posted as Commandant of the Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul. Following his promotion to Lieutenant General, Sharif served as a Corps Commander Gujranwala and then as the Inspector General for Training and Evaluation of the Pakistan Army before becoming the 15th Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan.[1]

Role in Counter Terrorism
General Raheel Shareef with Bob Work in 2014

As the Inspector General for Training and Evaluation, he enhanced the military colleges in the country and provided unconventional warfare training to the troops.[29] He also deals with the evaluation of military doctrines and war strategies with a view to shaping future training programs. He changed the army's focus more towards carrying out counter-insurgency operations against Tehrik-i-Taliban (Pakistani Taliban) militants.[29]

General Sharif has spearheaded a thinking in Pakistan military since 2007 that fighting Taliban inside Pakistan is more important than focusing on India, Pakistan's arch rival since independence.[30]

Chief of Army Staff

On 27 November 2013, Sharif was appointed as the 15th Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.[31]

In 2013, Sharif was conferred with Nishan-e-Imtiaz (military).[32] He has the distinction of being conferred with 5 international military awards, highest for any Pakistani Army Chief till date, in recognition for his outstanding leadership in the fight against terrorism and bringing stability to the region. General Raheel Sharif retired as the Chief of Army Staff on 29 November 2016.[33]

Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition
Sharif at the Global Security Dinner Davos in 2017

In April 2017, Raheel got the approval of the Government of Pakistan to serve as head of Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition a 41-nation Islamic military alliance being headquartered in Saudi Arabia.[34][35][36]

Awards and decorations
Nishan-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Order of Excellence)

 Hilal-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Crescent of Excellence)

Tamgha-e-Baqa

(Nuclear Test Medal)

1998

 Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan

(Escalation with India Medal)

2002

 10 Years Service Medal 20 Years Service Medal
30 Years Service Medal 35 Years Service Medal Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e-

Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam

(100th Birth Anniversary of

Muhammad Ali Jinnah)

1976

 Hijri Tamgha

(Hijri Medal)

1979

Jamhuriat Tamgha

(Democracy Medal)

1988

 Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha

(Resolution Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1990

 Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan

(Independence Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1997

 Command & Staff College

Quetta

Instructor's Medal

Foreign Decorations
Foreign Awards
 Saudi Arabia Order of Abdulaziz al Saud[37]
 USA The Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander)[38][39][40]
 Brazil Order of Military Merit[41]
 Turkey Turkish Legion of Merit[42][43]
 Jordan The Order of Military Merit (Grand Cordon)[44][45][46][47]

Effective dates of promotion
InsigniaRankDate
General, COASNov 2013
Lieutenant-GeneralApr 2010
Major-GeneralFeb 2006
BrigadierJune 2001
ColonelJuly 1999
Lieutenant ColonelMay 1993
MajorOct 1984
CaptainOct 1979
LieutenantApr 1977
Second LieutenantOct 1976

Bibliography
  • Din Ali Pirzada, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif: Soldier and Statesman, Karachi: Royal Book Company, 2016, 321 p.

References
  1. "Profile: Lt General Raheel Sharif". Dawn. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  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". 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". 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". 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.
  23. "Luck plays role in Gen Sharif's promotion". The News International. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  24. Mustafa, Nazia (29 November 2013). "From Sharif to Sharif". Nawaiwaqt Newspaper (in Urdu). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  25. "After Nishan-e-Haider (Urdu)". urdu.alarabiya.net. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  26. "Lt Gen Raheel Sharif appointed new army chief". The Express Tribune. Reuters. 23 February 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
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  28. Luck plays role in Gen Sharif’s promotion Print Edition The News International, Shakil Shaikh, 28 November 2013 | Retrieved 7 July 2015
  29. Khan, Wajahat S. (29 November 2013). "Knows the rules, makes a pincer move". The News International. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  30. "Profile: Raheel Sharif, Pakistan's 'strategic' army head". BBC. 27 November 2013.
  31. Waraich, Omar (27 November 2013). "Gen. Raheel Sharif: Pakistan's New Army Chief Assumes Pivotal Job | TIME.com". World.time.com. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  32. "President honours army chief, JCSC head with Nishan-e-Imtiaz". The Tribune. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  33. "General Janjua may be next ISI DG". The Nation. Pakistan. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  34. "DiplomaticQuarter: Bangladesh envoy lauds Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition's works". Arab News. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  35. "Retired Pakistani General in Riyadh to Lead Saudi Coalition". 22 April 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  36. Staff Writer (4 April 2017). "Iran Regime Not OK With Islamic NATO". Retrieved 29 May 2017.
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