# Asif Ghafoor

Asif Ghafoor HI(M) (Urdu: آصِف غفور ) is a retired three-star ranking general in the Pakistani Army, who most recently served as the president of the National Defence University uptill 2024. Previously, Ghafoor served as the Corps Commander Quetta and the 20th director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

## Education

Asif Ghafoor is a graduate of the Command & Staff College in Quetta, Command & Staff College Bandung in Indonesia and the National Defence University in Islamabad. He holds a master's degree in Strategic Studies.

## Military life

He was commissioned on 9 September 1988 in the 87 SP Medium Regiment Artillery from PMA Kakul. He had participated in the Kargil War as a Major, operations against terrorists in tribal areas of FATA and Swat during 2008–10 as a Lieutenant Colonel in Operation Sherdil and has commanded a Division at Swat, Malakand in 2016 as a Major General. Asif has also served as Director Military Operations at Army Headquarters GHQ as a Brigadier commanded Divisional Artillery deployed along the Line of Control and infantry brigade along eastern border. He has been on faculty of Command and Staff College Quetta.
The General has served on various staff, instructional and command assignments including Brigade Major Infantry Brigade, Assistant Military Secretary MS Branch, GSO-I Military Operations Directorate, GHQ, Director Military Operations in Military Operations Directorate, GHQ. He has been on the faculty of Command and Staff College, Quetta. He has commanded his parent unit in Operation al-Mizan, Artillery Brigade on Line of Control, Infantry Brigade on Eastern Border and a Division at Swat, Malakand. The General is recipient of COAS Commendation Card for operations in Bajaur during 2008 and Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military).
In December 2016, Ghafoor was appointed as the Director-General of the ISPR. While serving as DG ISPR, he faced criticism for maintaining a personal Twitter account and engaging in disputes with journalists and individuals who criticized Pakistan's military.
In January 2020, Gen. Ghafoor was appointed as the General Officer Commanding 40 Division in Okara. On 25 November 2020, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed as Inspector General Communications and Information Technology till August 2022. In August 2022, Asif Ghafoor was appointed Quetta Corps Commander after the death of Lt General Sarfraz Ali in an air crash and continued to held command till November 2023.
He was appointed as the President National Defence University Islamabad in November 2023 and continued to serve in the capacity till his retirement in late December 2024.

## Commands held

Commanding Details :
| S No | Command | Duration | Preceded By | Succeeded By |
| 1 | 21 Artillery Division, Swat (Now at Pannu Aqil) | January 2016 - December 2016 | Maj Gen | Maj Gen (Now Lt Gen) Ali Aamir Awan |
| 2 | Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations | December 2016 - January 2020 | Lt Gen Asim Bajwa | Maj Gen (Lt Gen) Babar Iftikhar |
| 3 | 40 Infantry Division, Okara | January 2020 - December 2020 | Maj Gen Azhar Waqas | Maj Gen Asad Ur Rehman |
| 4 | Inspector General Communication and Information Technology | December 2020 - August 2022 | Lt Gen Ali Aamir Awan | Lt Gen Muhammad Munir Afsar |
| 5 | Commander XII Corps, Quetta | August 2022 – November 2023 | Lt Gen Sarfaraz Ali | Lt Gen Rahat Naseem Ahmed Khan |
| 6 | President National Defence University | November 2023 – December 2024 | Lt Gen Rahat Naseem Ahmed Khan | Lt Gen Muhammad Aamer Najam |

## Awards and decorations

| | Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Crescent of Excellence) | Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Crescent of Excellence) | |
| 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) |
| 10 Years Service Medal | 20 Years Service Medal | 30 Years Service Medal | 35 Years Service Medal |
| 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 and Staff College Quetta Centenary Instructor's Medal |