Masood Aslam
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General
Muhammad Masood Aslam, HI, HI(M), SJ
, afwc, psc, (born September 1, 1952 at Jhelum
) is a retired three-star general who served as the principal commander of Pakistan Army
fighting the pro-Taliban forces in the North-West Pakistan
from 2007 to 2010. During his tenure all the major battles were fought against the militants, which included First Battle of Swat
, First Battle of Waziristan
, Battle of Bajaur
, Second Battle of Swat
, Second Battle of Waziristan
. He lost his only son, Hashim Masood, in the terrorist attack on Parade Lane Mosque
in Rawalpindi in December 2009.
Masood Aslam was awarded the civilian medal of Hilal-i-Imtiaz
after retirement for his achievements in bringing peace to the northwestern Pakistan. He also functioned as the Colonel Commandant of Punjab Regiment
from 2008 to 2010. He is currently serving as Pakistan Ambassador to Mexico
since June 2011.
in the northern Punjab
. He got his primary education from Presentation Convent High School, Jhelum and Government High School, Jhelum. By the year 1965, he joined Cadet College Hasan Abdal
and did his intermediate in pre engineering in 1970 with honours from the same college. However, instead of pursuing career in electrical engineering
, he decided to serve as an Army officer and joined the Pakistan Military Academy
in 1970.
. Within a few weeks of commissioning, he was seriously wounded fighting in the front lines at Chumb
-Jaurian sector. He was awarded Imtiazi Sanad
(mentioned in despatches) for his efforts and gallantry.
, Quetta
and holds a Masters Degree in Military Warfare from the National Defence College
, Islamabad
. He has also attended overseas courses including United Nations
peacekeeping course from Sweden and executive course from Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
, Honolulu, Hawaii
.
with India. He established military posts at Siachen and served at glaciated heights of around 20,000 feet. As a Lt. Col
, he commanded an Infantry battalion at Okara and then as a Brigadier-General, commanded two infantry brigades, one of which was at Kargil
. He was awarded Sitara-i-Jurat for his extraordinary service and bravery by the then President
Rafiq Tarar, after the Kargil encounter
.
on the LoC
during the period of escalation
, when Indian and Pakistani troops were tied up face to face in a very tense warlike state for two full years in 2001-03. He then served as the Director General NAB
(Punjab), and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General
in 2005 and posted as Inspector General Training and Evaluation (IGT&E).
launched military operation
against the vigilantes of Lal Masjid
in Islamabad
that followed with a rising trend of terrorist attacks throughout Pakistan, mostly emanating from the rugged lands of Waziristan
and the surrounding tribal regions
. A counter-terrorist operation was then launched under the general which included 2007 Taliban Waziristan offensive, Battle of Mir Ali
, and Battle of Swat
.
He has to his credit pushing out and defeating the militants in Swat, Buner, Dir Lower and other districts of Malakand Division and inflicting heavy blows against the TTP cadres in Bajaur, Mohmand and Khyber tribal agencies and Frontier Region (FR) Bannu. Lt General Masood Aslam was given an extension in his tenure as he was supposed to retire in October 2009.
Rawalpindi and the only son of Lt Gen Masood Aslam was killed during the December 2009 Rawalpindi attack
in Parade Lane Mosque during Friday prayers.
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Muhammad Masood Aslam, HI, HI(M), SJ
Sitara-e-Jurat
Sitara-e-Jurat is the third highest military award of Pakistan. It was established in 1957 after Pakistan became a Republic; however, it was instituted retrospectively back to 1947...
, afwc, psc, (born September 1, 1952 at Jhelum
Jhelum
Jhelum or Jehlum may refer to:* Jhelum, a city in Pakistan on the banks of the Jhelum River* Jhelum District, an administrative division in Punjab, Pakistan surrounding the city of Jhelum...
) is a retired three-star general who served as the principal commander of Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
fighting the pro-Taliban forces in the North-West Pakistan
War in North-West Pakistan
The War in North-West Pakistan is an armed conflict between the Pakistan Armed Forces and armed religious groups such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan , Lashkar-e-Islam, TSNM, Arab and Central Asian militants including Al-Qaeda, regional armed movements and elements of organized crime.The armed...
from 2007 to 2010. During his tenure all the major battles were fought against the militants, which included First Battle of Swat
First Battle of Swat
The Battle of Swat, Codename: Operation Rah-e-Haq, began on October 25, 2007 and involved the Pakistan Army and Taliban-led forces in a fight for control of the Swat district of Pakistan. Between October 25 and November 7, 2007 the militants quickly seized control of the region...
, First Battle of Waziristan
Operation Zalzala
The Operation Zalzala , was a Pakistan Army military offensive manhunt and a counter-insurgent operation that was commenced on January 18 of 2008...
, Battle of Bajaur
Battle of Bajaur
The Battle of Bajaur or Operation Sherdil was a military offensive in the Bajaur region of Pakistan launched by the Frontier Corps supported by a Combat Brigade of the Pakistan Army. The Bajaur area had been under Taliban control since early 2007, and was said to be Al-Qaeda's main command and...
, Second Battle of Swat
Second Battle of Swat
The Second Battle of Swat also known as Operation Rah-e-Rast, began in May 2009 and involved the Pakistani Army and Islamic militants in a fight for control of the Swat district of Pakistan. The first Battle of Swat had ended with a peace agreement, widely criticised in the west, that the...
, Second Battle of Waziristan
Operation Rah-e-Nijat
The Operation Rah-e-Nijat was a Pakistani military operation against the Taliban and other Islamist rebels in the South Waziristan area of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas that began on June 19, 2009; a major ground offensive was subsequently launched on October 17...
. He lost his only son, Hashim Masood, in the terrorist attack on Parade Lane Mosque
December 2009 Rawalpindi attack
The December 2009 Rawalpindi attack in Rawalpindi, Pakistan was a terrorist attack on a mosque during Friday prayers on December 4, 2009. The mosque is located near the Pakistan Army's headquarters in Rawalpindi, is surrounded by military houses and is frequented by retired and serving...
in Rawalpindi in December 2009.
Masood Aslam was awarded the civilian medal of Hilal-i-Imtiaz
Hilal-i-Imtiaz
The Hilal-i-Imtiaz, English: Crescent of Excellence, Urdu: هلال ا متيا ز , is the second highest civilian award and honor given to both civilians and military officers of the State of Pakistan|Pakistan armed forces by the Government of Pakistan...
after retirement for his achievements in bringing peace to the northwestern Pakistan. He also functioned as the Colonel Commandant of Punjab Regiment
Punjab Regiment (Pakistan)
The Punjab Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Pakistan Army. The modern regiment was formed in 1956 from an amalgamation of the 1st Punjab Regiment, 14th Punjab Regiment, 15th Punjab Regiment and 16th Punjab Regiment...
from 2008 to 2010. He is currently serving as Pakistan Ambassador to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
since June 2011.
Initial education
Lt Gen Masood Aslam was born in Mujahidabad, JhelumJhelum District
Jhelum District is in the Punjab province of Pakistan. According the 1998 census the district had a population of 936,957, of which 31.48% were urban. Jhelum is known for providing a large number of soldiers to the British and later to the Pakistan armed forces due to which it is also known as...
in the northern Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
. He got his primary education from Presentation Convent High School, Jhelum and Government High School, Jhelum. By the year 1965, he joined Cadet College Hasan Abdal
Cadet College Hasan Abdal
Cadet College, Hasan Abdal is a residential high school located in Hasan Abdal, Attock District, Punjab, Pakistan.-History:Cadet College, Hasan Abdal is the first Cadet College in Pakistan and was established by the government of Punjab at the initiative of General Muhammad Ayub Khan, the then...
and did his intermediate in pre engineering in 1970 with honours from the same college. However, instead of pursuing career in electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
, he decided to serve as an Army officer and joined the Pakistan Military Academy
Pakistan Military Academy
The Pakistan Military Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service military academy. It is located at Kakul near Abbottabad in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan....
in 1970.
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
He was commissioned in the 17th Battalion of the Punjab Regiment on 14 November 1971 in the 47th PMA Long Course as his course was shortened due to Indo-Pakistani War of 1971Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases...
. Within a few weeks of commissioning, he was seriously wounded fighting in the front lines at Chumb
Chumb
Chumb is an area of Pakistan near the southern tip of Azad Kashmir. Here are people from various ethnic groups such as Gujjars, Bakerwals, Paharis,khokhars, and Mughals. A Baradari system is prevalent throughout the region, and matters are dealt with by family leaders. Hazel coloured eyes are...
-Jaurian sector. He was awarded Imtiazi Sanad
Imtiazi Sanad
Imtiazi Sanad is the fifth highest Pakistani military award for gallantry or distinguished service in combat. It can be conferred upon any member of the Pakistani Armed Forces or paramilitary forces who is mentioned in the dispatches of a senior commander for actions that do not warrant a gallantry...
(mentioned in despatches) for his efforts and gallantry.
Military training
He was among the pioneer officers who established the computer branch at the GHQ in mid 1970s. He is a graduate of Command and Staff CollegeCommand and Staff College
The Command and Staff College was established in 1907 at Quetta, Balochistan, British Raj, now in Pakistan, and is the oldest and the most prestigious institution of the Pakistan Army. It was established in 1905 in Deolali and moved to its present location at Quetta in 1907 under the name of Quetta...
, Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
and holds a Masters Degree in Military Warfare from the National Defence College
National Defence University, Islamabad
The National Defense University is an institution of higher education funded by the Ministry of Defence of Government of Pakistan, intended to facilitate high-level training, education, and the development of national security strategy...
, Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
. He has also attended overseas courses including United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
peacekeeping course from Sweden and executive course from Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
The is a United States Department of Defense regional study, conference, and research center established in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States on September 4, 1995. The Center supports the United States Pacific Command theater security cooperation strategy of maintaining positive security...
, Honolulu, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
1987 Siachen Conflict and 1999 Kargil War
He served at Siachen for more than a year in the early days of Siachen conflictSiachen conflict
The Siachen Conflict, sometimes referred to as the Siachen War, is a military conflict between India and Pakistan over the disputed Siachen Glacier region in Kashmir. The conflict began in 1984 with India's successful Operation Meghdoot during which it wrested control of the Siachen Glacier from...
with India. He established military posts at Siachen and served at glaciated heights of around 20,000 feet. As a Lt. Col
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
, he commanded an Infantry battalion at Okara and then as a Brigadier-General, commanded two infantry brigades, one of which was at Kargil
Kargil town
Kargil is a town, which serves as the headquarters of Kargil District of Ladakh in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in India. It is the second largest town in Ladakh after Leh...
. He was awarded Sitara-i-Jurat for his extraordinary service and bravery by the then President
President of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
Rafiq Tarar, after the Kargil encounter
Kargil War
The Kargil War ,, also known as the Kargil conflict, was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir and elsewhere along the Line of Control...
.
2001-02 military standoff and staff assignments
He commanded 23rd Infantry Division JhelumJhelum
Jhelum or Jehlum may refer to:* Jhelum, a city in Pakistan on the banks of the Jhelum River* Jhelum District, an administrative division in Punjab, Pakistan surrounding the city of Jhelum...
on the LoC
Line of Control
The term Line of Control refers to the military control line between the Indian- and Pakistani-controlled parts of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir—a line which, to this day, does not constitute a legally recognized international boundary but is the de facto border...
during the period of escalation
2001-2002 India-Pakistan standoff
The 2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff was a military standoff between India and Pakistan that resulted in the massing of troops on either side of the International Border and along the Line of Control in the region of Kashmir...
, when Indian and Pakistani troops were tied up face to face in a very tense warlike state for two full years in 2001-03. He then served as the Director General NAB
National Accountability Bureau
The National Accountability Bureau is a federal executive agency of the Government of Pakistan, responsible and mandated for dealing with anti-corruption scandals, and also tasked with the gathering and managing the economic intelligence, and making efforts against the economic terrorism...
(Punjab), and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
in 2005 and posted as Inspector General Training and Evaluation (IGT&E).
Commander Peshawar Corps
In July 2007, Lt Gen Masood Aslam took charge of the sensitive post of Corps Commander Peshawar, replacing Lt Gen Muhammad Hamid Khan. This was period when Pakistan ArmyPakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
launched military operation
Siege of Lal Masjid
The siege of Lal Masjid was a confrontation in July 2007 between Islamic fundamentalist militants and the Government of Pakistan led by General Pervez Musharraf and Shaukat Aziz Administration, then Prime minister of Pakistan...
against the vigilantes of Lal Masjid
Lal Masjid
The Lal Masjid is a mosque located in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. A religious school for women, the Jamia Hafsa madrasah, and a male madrasah, Jamia Faridia are attached to the mosque.-History:...
in Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
that followed with a rising trend of terrorist attacks throughout Pakistan, mostly emanating from the rugged lands of Waziristan
Waziristan
Waziristan is a mountainous region near the Northwest of Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering some 11,585 km² . The area is entirely populated by ethnic Pashtuns . The language spoken in the valley is Pashto/Pakhto...
and the surrounding tribal regions
Federally Administered Tribal Areas
The Federally Administered Tribal Areas are a semi-autonomous tribal region in the northwest of Pakistan, lying between the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and the neighboring country of Afghanistan. The FATA comprise seven Agencies and six FRs...
. A counter-terrorist operation was then launched under the general which included 2007 Taliban Waziristan offensive, Battle of Mir Ali
Battle of Mir Ali
The Battle of Mir Ali was a bloody military engagement occurred between 7 October and 10 October 2007 and involved Taliban militants and Pakistani soldiers around the town of Mir Ali, Pakistan , the second biggest town in the semi-autonomous region on the border with Afghanistan.- Timeline of the...
, and Battle of Swat
Battle of Swat
The Battle of Swat may refer to:*The First Battle of Swat between Pakistan and Taliban and Tribal Militants, 2007*The Second Battle of Swat between Pakistan and Taliban and Tribal Militants, 2009...
.
He has to his credit pushing out and defeating the militants in Swat, Buner, Dir Lower and other districts of Malakand Division and inflicting heavy blows against the TTP cadres in Bajaur, Mohmand and Khyber tribal agencies and Frontier Region (FR) Bannu. Lt General Masood Aslam was given an extension in his tenure as he was supposed to retire in October 2009.
Affectee of Rawalpindi Parade Lane mosque attack
On 4 December 2009, Hashim Masood Aslam, the student of EME CollegeCollege of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
The College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering or is the largest constituent college of the National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan.- Location :...
Rawalpindi and the only son of Lt Gen Masood Aslam was killed during the December 2009 Rawalpindi attack
December 2009 Rawalpindi attack
The December 2009 Rawalpindi attack in Rawalpindi, Pakistan was a terrorist attack on a mosque during Friday prayers on December 4, 2009. The mosque is located near the Pakistan Army's headquarters in Rawalpindi, is surrounded by military houses and is frequented by retired and serving...
in Parade Lane Mosque during Friday prayers.