Nasser Khan Janjua
Nasir Khan Janjua (Urdu: ناصر خان جنجوعہ; HI(M)[1]) is a retired three-star rank army general who served as the National Security Advisor of Pakistan from 23 October 2015 to 27 June 2018.[2][3] Janjua has previously commanded the Southern Command & XII Corps in Quetta and briefly tenured as the president of the National Defence University in 2012.[4][5]
Naseer Khan Janjua | |
---|---|
7th National Security Advisor of Pakistan | |
In office 23 October 2015 – 27 June 2018 | |
Prime Minister | Nawaz Sharif Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Nasirul Mulk (caretaker) |
Preceded by | Sartaj Aziz |
Succeeded by | Moeed Yusuf |
Commander Southern Command & XII Corps | |
In office September 2013 – October 2015 | |
President of the National Defence University | |
In office July 2012 – August 2013 | |
Vice-Chief of General Staff | |
In office October 2011 – July 2012 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Nasser Khan Janjua |
Citizenship | Pakistan |
Nationality | Pakistani |
Alma mater | Pakistan Military Academy National Defence University |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Pakistan |
Branch/service | Pakistan Army |
Years of service | 1977–2015 |
Rank | Lieutenant-General |
Unit | Punjab Regiment |
Commands | XII Corps, Quetta Vice-Chief of General Staff GOC, 17th Infantry Division |
Battles/wars | Siachen conflict War in North-West Pakistan Balochistan conflict |
Awards | Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) |
Prior to be appointment as NSA, Janjua's name was mentioned as a possible replacement for Sartaj Aziz in Pakistan's news media after meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.[6] Janjua was confirmed and appointed as NSA after moving the NSA staff to Prime Minister's Secretariat on 23 October 2015. He resigned from his job on June 27, 2018.
Biography
Janjua went to Fc college Lahore where he completed his Intermediate, later selected in Pakistan Army long course. Janjua is a graduate from the 59th Class of the PMA at the Pakistan Military Academy and the National Defence University (NDU) where he studied political science; he got his commissioned into the Punjab Regiment.[7] His military career saw an active action in Siachen against the Indian Army and commanded a Brigade, as a Brigadier, in 2005.[8] Janjua later coordinated relief operations in Azad Kashmir in the aftermath of the massive earthquake in Pakistan in 2005.[8]
In 2006, he was posted as director at the Directore-General of Military Operations (DGMO) and served under Lieutenant-General (retired) Ahmad Shuja Pasha (later DG ISI).[8] He also took part in military negotiation with Indian Army on 23 May 2006 to avoid military accidents at the LoC.[8] In 2007, he was promoted as Major-General and held two-star assignment as DG of Directore-General of Military Operations (DGMO) in 2007; however, the appointment was short-lived and was posted as GOC of the 17th Infantry Division.[8] From 2007–08, Major-General Janjua took participation in combat operations in Swat and oversaw the Rah-e-Haq in 2007.[8] After Rah-e-Haq, Janjua's division was reverted to I Strike Corps which was posted at the Indo-Pakistani border. Forces under his command were put on alert to deter possible hostile actions by the Indian Army in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks in 2008.[8]
In 2011, Janjua was appointed as the Vice-Chief of General Staff at the GHQ in Rawalpindi and was promoted as Lieutenant-General to continue upon the three-star assignment. In 2012, Janjua was appointed as the president of the National Defence University where he also served on the teaching faculty and instructed courses on war studies and political science.[9] His appointed was later commented by military analyst, Ikram Sehgal, as instrumental "in changing the curricula and the "Lal Kurti" mindset to reflect modernity in warfare, combining the National Security and War Course into one course instead of two overlapping ones."[7]
On 20 August 2013, Lieutenant-General Janjua was posted as field commander of the XII Corps in Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.[10][11] Janjua worked closely with Chief Minister Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch in stabilising the Balochistan and supervised firsthand counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations against a variety of militant groups in the restive Balochistan province.[7] From sectarian militias to alleged Indian-sponsored separatist groups, Janjua had been a witness to some of the most vicious interference in Pakistan.[7]
National Security Adviser (Oct 2015–June 2018)
In October 2015, Janjua retired from the military service and received honorary discharge to hand over the command of XII Corps to Lieutenant-General Aamir Riaz. His new assignment at the National Security Council was first broke by political analyst, Najam Sethi, at his programme format, Aapas ki Baat, aired by Geo News.[12] Since then, Pakistan's news media began circulating the news of Janjua being appointed as NSA.[13] Janjua's appointment as NSA was viewed to provide co-ordinate to Sartaj Aziz to concentrate on foreign policy which were being ignored due to his hectic engagement as per demand of the dual offices, quoted by the officials in Islamabad.[14] Furthermore, it was also noted that, Janjua's appointment as NSA will take off the burden from Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan's shoulders who has long been holding counter-terrorism talks with British government.[8] The National Security Council staff that functioned under Sartaj Aziz was located at the Foreign Office, and the NSC staff was posted back to Prime Minister's Secretariat on immediate effect.[15]
On 6 December 2015, Janjua travelled to Thailand to hold the national-security level talks with India. Janjua's visit to Bangkok, the first in his role as national security adviser, was held a meeting with Indian counterpart Ajit Doval that discussed terrorism, conflict resolution involving in Jammu and Kashmir, and other bilateral issues and agreed to take forward the "constructive" engagement.[16] In October 2017, he suggested US Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale, setting up an empowered “US Political Authority” can help to seek political solution for unending Afghan war. He resigned from his job on June 27, 2018.
References
- ISPR. "Recipient of Hilal-e-Imtiaz". ispr.gov.pk/. Inter-Services Public Relations. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- "Nasir Janjua, Sartaj Aziz made part of fresh cabinet - Pakistan - Dunya News". dunyanews.tv. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
- From the Newspaper's staff work (23 October 2015). "Janjua appointed NSA". Dawn newspaper, staff work. Dawn newspaper. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
- Ex-general Naseer Khan Janjua to be appointed new national security adviser
- Janjua appointed NSA
- Staff report (17 October 2015). "General Nasir Janjua may be appointed National Security Adviser". News International, staff work. News International. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
- Sehgal, Major (retired) Ikram (2 October 2015). "A Farewll to Arms". Business recorder, Sehgal. Business recorder. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
- Khalid, M. (26 October 2015). "The Significance of Nasser Janjua's Appointment As National Security Adviser". Pakistan Insider, Khalid. Pakistan Insider. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
- APP (26 July 2012). "Lt-Gen Nasir Janjua posted as NDU President". The Nation. The Nation, 2012. The Nation. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
- Shaheen, Sikander (20 August 2013). "Nasir Janjua new Corps Commander Quetta". The Nation, Shaheen. The Nation. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
- A Tribute to Gen Janjua’s Leadership
- Sethi, Najam; Farooq, Muneeb. "Aapas Ki Baat". Aapas Ki Baat. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
- News Desk (23 October 2015). "Lieutenant General (R) Nasir Janjua appointed as National Security Adviser". dunyanews.tv. Dunya News, 2015. Dunya News. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
- Press Trust of India (23 October 2015). "Ex-General Nasser Khan Janjua Replaces Sartaj Aziz as Pakistan's NSA". NDTV. NDTV. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
- Staff reporter (23 October 2015). "Janjua takes over as Pakistan's NSA". Gulf News, Pakistan Bureau. Gulf News. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- staff work (6 December 2015). "Indo-Pakistan NSAs Ajit Doval, Nasir Janjua meet in Bangkok; discuss terrorism, Kashmir". Economic Times, staff work. Economic Times. Retrieved 21 December 2015.