Since its independence in 1947, Pakistan’s Army leadership has evolved through two main phases: the era of Commanders-in-Chief (1947–1972) and the Chiefs of Army Staff (COAS) from 1972 onward. The Army Chiefs have played crucial roles not only in military affairs but also in shaping Pakistan’s political landscape.
Commanders-in-Chief of Pakistan Army (1947–1972)
| No. | Name | Took Office | Left Office | Time in Office | Notes |
| 1 | General Frank Messervy | 15 Aug 1947 | 10 Feb 1948 | 179 days | First Commander-in-Chief; British officer retained temporarily after independence. |
| 2 | General Sir Douglas Gracey | 11 Feb 1948 | 16 Jan 1951 | 2 years, 339 days | Last British Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Army. |
| 3 | General Ayub Khan | 17 Jan 1951 | 27 Oct 1958 | 7 years, 284 days | First native Pakistani C-in-C; later became President and Field Marshal. |
| 4 | General Muhammad Musa Khan | 28 Oct 1958 | 27 Oct 1966 | 8 years | Longest-serving C-in-C; led during 1965 Indo-Pak war. |
| 5 | General Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan | 27 Oct 1966 | 19 Dec 1971 | 5 years, 53 days | Served as President during 1971 war and Bangladesh independence crisis. |
| 6 | Lt. General Gul Hassan Khan | 20 Dec 1971 | 3 Mar 1972 | 74 days | Last Commander-in-Chief before the post was renamed Chief of Army Staff. |
Check Out| How Air Defence Systems Work and What does Neutralized Mean?
Chiefs of Army Staff (COAS) of Pakistan Army (1972–Present)
| No. | Name | Took Office | Left Office | Notes |
| 1 | General Tikka Khan | 1972 | 1976 | First COAS after renaming of the post. |
| 2 | General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq | 1976 | 1988 | Imposed martial law in 1977; ruled as military dictator until his death in 1988. |
| 3 | General Mirza Aslam Beg | 1988 | 1991 | Oversaw transition to civilian rule. |
| 4 | General Asif Nawaz Janjua | 1991 | 1993 | Known for professional military leadership; died in office. |
| 5 | General Abdul Waheed Kakar | 1993 | 1996 | Helped maintain army's apolitical stance during civilian governments. |
| 6 | General Jehangir Karamat | 1996 | 1998 | Resigned after differences with civilian government. |
| 7 | General Pervez Musharraf | 1998 | 2007 | Led 1999 coup; served as military ruler and President. |
| 8 | General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani | 2007 | 2013 | Maintained military professionalism; oversaw counterterrorism operations. |
| 9 | General Raheel Sharif | 2013 | 2016 | Known for aggressive operations against militants. |
| 10 | General Qamar Javed Bajwa | 2016 | 2022 | Extended tenure; focused on military modernization and regional stability. |
| 11 | General Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah | 2022 | Present | Current COAS as of 2025. |
India-Pakistan Conflict (2025)
The long-standing conflict between India and Pakistan, primarily over the Kashmir region, sharply intensified in April 2025 after a terrorist incident in Indian-administered Kashmir's Pahalgam region. It led to cross-border shelling and gunfights along the Line of Control (LoC).
- India conducted missile strikes against militant organizations in Pakistan, which Pakistan alleged targeted civilian targets, further escalating tensions.
- Both the countries followed each other with mutual military operations, such as air and artillery raids.
- A ceasefire was declared on May 10, 2025, but Pakistan was reported to have violated it shortly afterwards.
What's Next| Indian Airports Temporarily Closed Until May 15th, Check Complete List Here, after Operation Sindoor
- Diplomatic ties weakened with the expulsion of diplomats, suspension of visa processing, closure of trade corridors, and suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty by India.
- The conflict points to the vulnerable security situation in South Asia, where nuclear-powered neighbors are engaged in a 1947 independence and partition-old dispute over Kashmir.
- This continuous conflict points to the pivotal importance of Pakistan's military leadership to national security and regional stability.
This historical account of Pakistan's Army Chiefs, coupled with the existing geopolitical tensions with India, is a testament to the interconnected nature of military leadership and regional security issues in South Asia.
Explore| Scalp Missile (Storm Shadow): Check its Cost, Range, Specifications and Characteristics
Comments
All Comments (0)
Join the conversation