UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Major General Jawwad Ahmed as the new Force Commander of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), succeeding a Bangladeshi general who completed his assignment earlier this month.
Major General Ahmed brings more than 35 years of leadership and operational experience in the Pakistan Army and UN peacekeeping to the post, according to the United Nations and Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN.
He succeeds Major General Md Fakhrul Ahsan of Bangladesh, whose assignment ended on August 2. MINURSO paid tribute to Ahsan at a farewell ceremony at its headquarters in Laayoune, where the mission’s Special Representative and head, Alexander Ivanko, praised his professionalism, leadership and contribution to the mission, said the UN press release.
Major General Ahmed has held several senior command and staff positions in Pakistan, including Director General at the Ministry of Defence in Rawalpindi, where he oversaw command and control, local governance and administration of cantonment areas across the country, according to the release.
He previously served as General Officer Commanding of an infantry division, Director General of the Inspection and Evaluation Directorate at General Headquarters and Force Commander Northern Areas, said the release.
His other senior appointments included brigade commander in cantonment and high-altitude field areas, as well as Chief Instructor at the National Command and Staff College in Quetta.
Earlier in his career, Ahmed served with a Pakistani battalion deployed with the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium in Croatia.
Ahmed holds a Master of Science in Art and Science of Warfare and a Master of Philosophy in Public Policy and Strategic Security Management from Pakistan’s National Defence University.
He also holds a postgraduate certificate in Security and Strategy for Global Leaders from King’s College London.
In addition to Urdu, Ahmed is fluent in English and has working knowledge of French.
Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN said the appointment reflected the country’s continued commitment to UN peacekeeping and international efforts to promote peace and stability.
It said Pakistan would continue supporting UN peacekeeping operations by providing mission-ready contingents and personnel with extensive peacekeeping experience.
