President Zardari confers Nishan-i-Imtiaz on National Strategic Command Commander Gen Aamer Raza

President Asif Ali Zardari honored General Aamer Raza, commander of the National Strategic Command, with the prestigious Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) award during an investiture ceremony at Aiwan-i-Sadr in Islamabad on Tuesday. This recognition was officially approved by the president on July 31. The ceremony was graced by the presence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, service chiefs, and senior military and government officials.

Prior to his appointment as CNSC, General Raza was promoted to the rank of four-star general in July and bestowed with the position of Commander of the National Strategic Command. The CNSC post, established under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, was created to assume the nuclear management role previously held by the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, which was abolished.

General Raza has been previously honored with the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) and Sitara-i-Basalat (Star of Valour). Before his recent promotion, he served as the chief of general staff, overseeing the implementation of organizational changes mandated by the 27th Amendment and the subsequent restructuring following the conflict with India, including the creation of the Army Rocket Force Command.

A cavalry officer commissioned in 1988 into the 6th Lancers, General Raza has held command positions over armored regiments, brigades, an infantry brigade in South Waziristan, an infantry division, and Lahore's IV Corps. His career has primarily focused on conventional operations and force development, with limited experience in strategic planning, force command, or missile programs.