Introduction

General Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah HI (M) is a four-star general and current Chief of Army Staff. He is the 11th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) from 30th November 2022 after General Qamar Javed Bajwa retired as the COAS.

General Syed Asim Munir


Professional Achievements

General Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah HI (M) is a four-star general and current Chief of Army Staff. He is the 11th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) from 30th November 2022 after General Qamar Javed Bajwa retired as the COAS. He is holder of the Sword of Honour.

Prior to becoming Chief of Army Staff, he was posted in GHQ as the Quartermaster general. He commanded the XXX Corps (Pakistan) in Gujranwala from 17 June 2019 to 6 October 2021. He served as the Director General Military Intelligence (MI), also as the 23rd Director-General of the ISI.

General Asim Munir is from the 17th course of the Officers Training School (OTS) in Mangla. He was commissioned in the 23rd Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment. Initially, he started his military career in 1986. General Asim Munir is the second Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan after General Zia Ul Haq who graduated from the OTS Mangla.

In early, 2017, he was appointed as the Director General Military Intelligence (MI). He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in September 2018 and was subsequently appointed as DG ISI, the Country’s premier spy agency.

General Asim Munir was awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz in March 2018. He had earlier served as the commander of the Troops deployed in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. In June 2019, General Asim Munir was replaced by Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed as the new DG ISI. He was then transferred and appointed as Corps Commander of XXX Corps in Gujranwala.

On December 8, 2022, General Asim Munir received the Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) award from President Arif Alvi. At the Aiwan-e-Sadr, the top military officials were given special investitures in front of the Prime Minister, diplomats, lawmakers, and federal ministers who were present during the ceremony.

Initially, he started his military career in 1986. He is from the 17th Course of the Officers Training School (OTS) in Mangla. General Asim Munir is the second Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan after General Zia-ul-Haq who graduated from the OTS Mangla. Asim Munir was Commissioned in the 23rd Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment.

During his posting in Madina as a Lieutenant Colonel, Asim Munir became Hafiz-e-Quran at the age 38. General Asim Munir is from a Syed family and his father (late) Syed Sarwar Munir Shah was a teacher. He was the principal of FG Technical High School Lalkurti Rawalpindi. In the past, Asim Munir along with family lived at Dheri Hassan Abad in Rawalpindi before they moved to another place.

Awards and Decorations Held by General Asim Munir

Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) 2022

Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) 2018

Tamgha-e-Diffa (General Service Medal) – Siachen Glacier Clasp

Tamgha-e-Baqa (Nuclear Test Medal) 1998

Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan (Escalation with India Medal) 2002

Tamgha-e-Azm (Medal of Conviction) 2018

Service Medals (10 Years, 20 Years, 30 Years, and 35 Years)

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 (Instructors Medal)