Sahir Shamshad Mirza

Sahir Shamshad Mirza^[3][4] NI(M) HI(M) (Urdu: ساحر شمشاد مرزا) is a Pakistani four star-general, currently serving as the 18th chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee^[5] appointed to the post on 27 November 2022.^[6] Prior to this appointment, he commanded the Rawalpindi Northern Command from 2021 to 2022.^[7][8] He is a well decorated officer in the army, being awarded Nishan-e-Imtiaz both civilian and military.^[9]

General Sahir Shamshad Mirza NI(C) NI(M) HI(M)
ساحر شمشاد مرزا
18th Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office 27 November 2022
President	Arif Alvi Asif Ali Zardari
Preceded by	General Nadeem Raza
Former Commands Corps Commander Rawalpindi In office 7 September 2021 – 26 November 2022 Preceded by Azhar Abbas Succeeded by Shahid Imtiaz 37th Chief of General Staff In office June 2019 – September 2021 Preceded by Nadeem Raza Succeeded by Azhar Abbas Adjutant General at GHQ In office June 2019 – September 2019 Preceded by Faiz Hameed Succeeded by Muhammad Aamer Vice Chief of General Staff – Alpha In office October 2018 – June 2019 Preceded by Major General Shaheen Mazhar Mehmood Succeeded by Major General Muhammad Asim Malik Director General Military Operations In office September 2015 – October 2018 Preceded by Major General Aamer Riaz Succeeded by Major General Nauman Zakaria GOC 40th Infantry Division, D.I. Khan In office February 2015 – 15 September 2015 Succeeded by Major General Abid Mumtaz
Personal details
Born	Mulhal Mughlan, Chakwal District, Pakistan
Parent	Shamshad Mirza (father)
Education	Pakistan Military Academy National Defence University Cranfield University (MSc.)[1]
Awards	List
Military service
Allegiance	Pakistan
Branch/service	Pakistan Army
Years of service	1987–Present
Rank	General
Unit	8 Sind Regiment
Commands	List of Commands X Corps Chief of General Staff Vice CGS - Alpha Military Operations 40 Infantry Division, Okara Brigade Major of two Infantry Brigades GSO Grade I (Plans) Pakistan Contingent UNOMSIL [2]
Battles/wars	Sierra Leone Civil War Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Operation Zarb-e-Azb

Early life and education

Sahir was born to Shamshad Mirza in Mulhal Mughlan, a small village located in Chakwal District, Punjab. Sahir was orphaned at a young age.^[10] He graduated from the Pakistan Military Academy, Command and Staff College, Quetta and National Defence University, Pakistan. He also received his M.Sc. degree in Global Security from Cranfield University, United Kingdom.^[1]

Military career

Sahir was commissioned into the 8th Sind Regiment of the Pakistan Army after completing the 76th Pakistan Military Academy course on 10 September 1987. He has held commands such as adjutant general at the GHQ, Commander X Corps and Director General and G1M06 at the Military Operations Directorate.^[11] During his assignment at Military Operations, he commanded 40th Infantry Division in Okara.^[12]

Political views

Regional stability and strategic balance

Sahir has consistently advocated for strategic stability in South Asia and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, he emphasized that enduring peace requires trust, mutual recognition of red lines, and inclusive crisis management mechanisms. He warned that attempts to build regional security architectures without trust or equal participation are inherently flawed.^[13]

Kashmir dispute

Highlighting the fragile security environment in South Asia, Sahir identified unresolved disputes such as Kashmir, deteriorating India-Pakistan-China relations, and Afghanistan’s instability as major flashpoints. He cautioned that the nuclearization of the region has heightened the risk of miscalculation, and called for the restoration of functional communication channels between rival states.

He reiterated Pakistan’s long-standing position on Kashmir, advocating for a resolution aligned with United Nations Security Council resolutions and the will of the Kashmiri people.^[14]

Awards and honours

On 8 December 2022, Sahir received the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (military) award alongside COAS Asim Munir from Arif Alvi at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. The top military officials were given the awards in front of Prime Minister of Pakistan, diplomats, lawmakers, and federal ministers.^[15]

Publications

• Lieutenant Colonel Sahir Shamshad Mirza, “Subcontinental Security and Its Impact on World Security: Challenges and the Way Forward”, NDU Journal, 2009.^[16]

Effective dates of promotion

Insignia	Rank	Date
	General	Nov 2022[17]
	Lieutenant General	April 2019
	Major General	February 2015[18]
	Brigadier	September 2012
	Lieutenant Colonel	April 2002
	Major	May 1996
	Captain	April 1991
	Lieutenant	October 1989
	Second Lieutenant	October 1987

Awards and decorations

Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Order of Excellence) (2022)		Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Civilian) (Order of Excellence) (2025)
Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Crescent of Excellence) (2018)	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 Nishan e Haider Golden Jubilee Medal) 1990	Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan (Independence Day Golden Jubilee Medal) 1997
Command & Staff College Quetta Instructor's Medal	United Nations UNOMSIL Medal (2 Deployments)	The Order of Bahrain 2nd Class[19] (Bahrain) (2021)	Order of the Star of Jordan[20][21] (Jordan) (2023)

Foreign decorations

Foreign Awards
United Nations	UNOMSIL Medal
Bahrain	The Order of Bahrain (2nd Class)[19]
Jordan	Order of the Star of Jordan (1st Class)[20][21]