Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has promoted Lieutenant General Syed Aamer Raza to the rank of four-star General and appointed him as the first Commander of Pakistan's newly established National Strategic Command (NSC). The appointment marks a significant milestone in the country's evolving military command structure.
Who is General Syed Aamer Raza?
General Syed Aamer Raza is regarded as one of the Pakistan Army's most experienced senior officers. He was commissioned into the 6th Lancers (Watson's Horse) in 1988 and has served in a wide range of command, staff, and instructional roles throughout his military career.
He is a graduate of the Command and Staff College, Quetta, and the National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad. He also holds a Master's degree in International Relations from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, along with postgraduate qualifications in Arts and Science of Warfare and Defence & Strategic Studies from NDU.
Military Career
During his distinguished career, General Raza has commanded the 6th Lancers Regiment, an Armoured Brigade, an Infantry Brigade in South Waziristan, and an Infantry Division.
His staff appointments include Brigade Major, GSO-2 to the Chief of General Staff, Chief of Staff of a Strike Corps, and Director General of the Weapons and Equipment Directorate.
He has also served in several instructional appointments, including Instructor at the School of Armour and Mechanized Warfare, Director of the Faculty of Research and Doctrinal Studies (FORADS), and Chief Instructor at the Command and Staff College, Quetta.
Senior Leadership Roles
In April 2020, General Raza assumed command as Chairman Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT), overseeing one of Pakistan's premier defence production organizations.
He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in October 2022 and appointed Commander IV Corps, Lahore in May 2023. In January 2025, he became the Chief of the General Staff (CGS), one of the Pakistan Army's most influential operational and planning appointments.
Appointment as Commander National Strategic Command
On 24 July 2026, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif promoted him to the rank of General (Four-Star) and appointed him as the first Commander of the National Strategic Command.
The position was created under the Pakistan Army, Air Force and Navy (Amendment) Act, 2025. The same legislation designated Field Marshal Asim Munir as the Chief of Defence Forces and replaced the former office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) with the new command structure.
Under the law, the Commander of the National Strategic Command is appointed by the Prime Minister for a three-year term on the recommendation of the Chief of the Army Staff–Chief of Defence Forces.
