ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s military has announced a major reshuffle in its senior posts, including appointing a new chief for the country’s top spy agency.

A statement late on Sunday said Lt. Gen. Naveed Mukhtar will replace Lt. Gen. Rizwan Akhtar as the Inter-Services Intelligence chief. ISI has often been criticized of cultivating ties with militant groups and interfering in domestic politics.

The appointment comes days after Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa was named new army chief. His predecessor Gen. Raheel Sharif retired on Nov. 29.

The reshuffle involves a total of 11 new appointments, including that of spymaster and Lt. Gen. Bilal Akbar who is taking over as chief of the army general staff.

Pakistan’s powerful army has ruled the country for most of its history since independence from Britain in 1947.</s>Pakistan’s new Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Sunday removed the head of the country’s spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) as part of a major reshuffle.

Gen. Bajwa, who took over from Gen. Raheel Sharif two weeks ago, however, did not name Lt. Gen. Rizwan Akhtar’s successor.

Lt. Gen. Akhtar has been appointed president of the National Defence University (NDU), the Army said in a statement.

Later, Dawn newspaper reported Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), ISI’s media wing, as telling that Lt. Gen. Naveed Mukhtar will replace Lt. Gen. Akhtar as the ISI head.

Lt. Gen Mukhtar possess vast experience in the field of intelligence and has headed the counterterrorism wing of the spy agency in Islamabad. He was commissioned in the Armoured Corps regiment in 1983.</s>Islamabad: Pakistan's new army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Sunday abruptly removed the head of the country's spy agency ISI and made several other significant changes in the army's top brass, as part of a major reshuffle.

Gen Bajwa, who took over from Gen Raheel Sharif two weeks ago, however, did not name Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar's successor at the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Lt Gen Akhtar has been appointed President of the National Defence University (NDU), the army said in a statement.

The newly-promoted Lt Gen Bilal Akbar has been appointed Chief of General Staff, it said.

Lt Gen Nazir Butt - presently President of the NDU - has been appointed Corps Commander Peshawar (11Corps), replacing Lt Gen Hidayat-ur Rehman, who was appointed Inspector-General Training and Evaluation (IGT&E) at General Headquarters (GHQ).

Lt Gen Asim Salim Bajwa, presently heading army's media wing, has been appointed Inspector-General Arms (IG Arms) at GHQ.

On December 9, seven major generals were promoted to lieutenant generals, the statement said. And On November 29, Gen Javed Bajwa officially took charge as the 16th Chief of Army Staff during a ceremony in Rawalpindi.

A career infantry officer belonging to the Baloch Regiment, Gen Javed Bajwa is said to have extensive experience of handling affairs in Kashmir and northern areas of Pakistan.

Amont other changes he undertook today, the newly promoted Lt Gen Hamayun Aziz has been appointed Inspector General C&IT at GHQ, while newly promoted Lt Gen Qazi Ikram has been appointed Chief of Logistic Staff at GHQ.

Another newly promoted Lt Gen Sher Afgun has been posted 31 Corps Commander which is based in Bahawalpur near Indian border, while newly Promoted Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal will continue as DG FWO and newly promoted Lt Gen Naeem Ashraf has been appointed Chairman Heavy Industries Taxila(HIT).

The army chief has not appointed heads of ISI, ISPR and Rangers in Sindh.

Officials said the army chief might consult the political leadership before making these "politically sensitive appointments."</s>Lt. Gen Naveed Mukhtar was appointed as director-general of the ISI, replacing Lt. Gen Rizwan Akhtar, who is being moved to the post of president of the National Defence University, according to a statement by the military's press wing late on Sunday.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday picked Lieutenant General Qamar Javed Bajwa to replace outgoing army chief Raheel Sharif, the popular military leader credited with improving security and driving back Islamist militant groups.

The army is arguably the most influential institution in Pakistan, with the military having ruled the country for about half of its 69-year history since independence from Britain and enjoying extensive powers even under civilian administrations.

By turn, the head of the ISI occupies one of the most important posts in Pakistan. The agency has long been accused of supporting Islamist militants targeting neighbor and arch-foe India as well as sheltering the Afghan Taliban and other militants.

Pakistan's government and military deny any links to militants.

Mukhtar had most recently been assigned as corps commander of Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, and had previously headed the counterterrorism wing of the ISI in the capital, Islamabad, according to Dawn newspaper.</s>India is bracing itself for a fresh round of backroom power play in Kabul after Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar’s (in pic) appointment as head of Pakistan spy agency, ISI. Gen Mukhtar is regarded as an old Afghanistan hand.



 Pakistan new army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa is settling down with key appointments of new formations and other commanders.



 Lt Gen Bilal Akbar was named as the chief of general staff (CGS), one of the key positions in the Pakistan Army, which handles intelligence and operations. Lt Gen Sher Afgun will be the corps commander, Bahawalpur.



 New Delhi sees Afghanistan heating up after Naveed Mukhtar takes over as the ISI boss. He was commanding the Karachi corps and is known to have strong views on Afghanistan, where Pakistan and India have been locked in a shadow war.



 Mukhtar is the author of a paper “Afghanistan — Alternative Futures and their implications,” which he wrote for his master’s degree in strategic studies.



 The paper provides an insight into his mind, as he strongly advocated the need for countering India in Afghanistan. He felt that New Delhi’s hold over Kabul should be weakened.



 The views are in line with Pakistan Army’s policy to keep the Taliban flag fluttering in Afghanistan, so as to keep intact its influence over Kabul. The Pakistan Army has supported Taliban, which has irked Afghanistan to the extent that it openly talks about Islamabad’s meddling in its affair.



 India feels that Mukhtar is likely to continue with the old policy and is well prepared to handle the situation. There is a view in New Delhi that the recent surgical strikes across the Line of Control by the Indian Army has sent a strong message to Islamabad that any violation will invite costs. A similar strategy has been adopted in Afghanistan where India will not allow its installations to be targeted. The Afghan government is firmly siding with India, said officials, who also point out that there is not going to be any change in that equation. Mukhtar, an armoured corps officer, is said to have been picked up by prime minister Nawaz Sharif, even though there is no confusion in India that the Pakistan Army makes its own choices while placing generals in key positions.



 Mukhtar replaces Rizwan Akhtar, who was transferred to the National Defence University, Islamabad. Akhtar has also commanded a brigade in South Waziristan. He had earlier done a stint in the ISI . In other appointments Lt Gen Nadeem Raza will be the Rawalpindi corps commander while Lt Gen Nazir Butt will now head the Peshawar corps.



 Pakistan Army’s information wing chief Lt Gen Asim Bajwa, will now be inspector general arms at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.</s>Pakistan has named a new head of its military Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI).

The Pakistani military said in a statement on December 11 that Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar was appointed as director-general of the ISI, replacing Lieutenant General Rizwan Akhtar.

The move comes two weeks after the chief of the army’s staff was replaced.

Mukhtar previously served as commander of the V Corps in the port city of Karachi for the past two years. He also previously served as the ISI’s counterterrorism wing.

Akhtar will become president of the National Defense University, the military said in the statement.

Both the military and the ISI are very powerful in Pakistan, with the army having ruled the country for almost half the time since it gained independence in 1947.

The ISI has been accused of backing Islamist militants in neighboring Afghanistan and India, charges that it denies.

Mukhtar is a graduate of the National Defense University in Islamabad and the United States Army War College in Pennsylvania.

Based on reporting by Reuters, The Nation, and Financial Express

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.
• New ISI chief for ‘aggressive measures’ against India in Afghanistan
Pakistan appoints Lt. Gen. Naveed Mukhtar as the new head of the Inter-Services Intelligence.