UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Pakistan Army Major General Jawwad Ahmed as Force Commander of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).
Ahmed succeeds Major General Md Fakhrul Ahsan of Bangladesh, whose assignment ended on August 2, according to the United Nations and Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN.
The appointment of Jawwad Ahmed as MINURSO commander brings more than 35 years of military leadership, operational, and UN peacekeeping experience to the mission.
Ahmed previously served as Director General at the Ministry of Defence in Rawalpindi. He also held posts as General Officer Commanding of an infantry division, Director General of the Inspection and Evaluation Directorate at General Headquarters and Force Commander, Northern Areas.
Earlier in his career, he served with a Pakistani battalion deployed under the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium in Croatia.
Ahmed holds a Master of Science in Art and Science of Warfare and a Master of Philosophy in Public Policy and Strategic Security Management from Pakistan’s National Defence University. He also holds a postgraduate certificate from King’s College London.
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Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN said the appointment reflected the country’s continued commitment to United Nations peacekeeping operations.
The mission said Pakistan would continue providing personnel and contingents with peacekeeping experience for UN operations.
