General Raheel Sharif Biography

Raheel Sharif Biography:

Raheel Sharif is a retired four-star general of the Pakistan Army who served as the 15th Chief of Army Staff from 2013 to 2016. He was born on June 16, 1956, in Quetta, Balochistan. Sharif was commissioned in the Pakistan Army in 1976 and served in various command and staff positions throughout his career. He is considered to be one of the most successful army chiefs in Pakistan’s history, particularly for his role in leading the military operation Zarb-e-Azb against terrorist groups in North Waziristan. After his retirement from the army, he was appointed as the head of the Saudi-led Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism in 2017.

Early life of Raheel Sharif:

Raheel Sharif was born on June 16, 1956, in Quetta, Pakistan. He comes from a military family and his father, Major Rana Muhammad Sharif, was a well-known Pakistan Army officer. Raheel Sharif joined the Pakistan Military Academy in 1976 and was commissioned in the Pakistan Army in 1977.

During his early career, Raheel Sharif served in various positions, including as a company commander in the Northern Areas of Pakistan and as an instructor at the Pakistan Military Academy. He also served as a battalion commander in Kashmir and as a brigade commander in Siachen.

In 2001, Raheel Sharif was promoted to the rank of Major General and served as the General Officer Commanding of an infantry division. He also served as the Director General of Military Operations from 2008 to 2010.

Raheel Sharif was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in 2010 and served as the corps commander of the IV Corps in Quetta. He played a key role in the successful military operation against militants in the area and was credited with reducing violence in the region.

In 2013, Raheel Sharif was appointed as the 15th Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army, succeeding General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. During his tenure as army chief, Raheel Sharif launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb against terrorists in North Waziristan and other parts of the country, which significantly reduced terrorist activities in Pakistan. He also played an important role in improving Pakistan’s relations with other countries, particularly China and the United States.

Raheel Sharif retired from the Pakistan Army in 2016, after completing his three-year term as army chief.

Family background of Raheel Sharif:

Raheel Sharif comes from a family with a strong military background. His elder brother, Major Shabbir Sharif, was a recipient of Pakistan’s highest military award, the Nishan-e-Haider, for his bravery in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. His other brother, Captain Mumtaz Sharif, also served in the army.

His father, Major Rana Muhammad Sharif, served in the British Indian Army during World War II and later joined the Pakistan Army. Raheel Sharif’s nephew, Tariq Mehmood, is also a serving major in the Pakistan Army.

Overall, Raheel Sharif’s family has a long and proud history of serving in the military, with several members having received recognition for their bravery and contributions to Pakistan’s national defense.

Childhood of Raheel Sharif:

Raheel Sharif’s childhood was spent moving around the country due to his father’s postings in various locations. He received his early education from schools in Lahore and Quetta, and then went on to attend the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul, Abbottabad.

During his childhood, Raheel Sharif was known to be a disciplined and hardworking student. He was also passionate about sports and participated in various athletic activities, including cricket and hockey.

His upbringing in a military family and exposure to various parts of the country contributed to his development as a well-rounded individual, and provided him with a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing Pakistan.

Education of Raheel Sharif:

Raheel Sharif, a retired Pakistani Army General, received his early education at Government College Lahore. Later, he attended the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul and was commissioned in the Pakistan Army in 1976.

He also received advanced military training at various institutions in Pakistan and abroad, including the Command and Staff College Quetta, the National Defense University in Islamabad, and the Royal College of Defense Studies in London.

In addition to his military education and training, Raheel Sharif holds a master’s degree in War Studies from the National Defense University in Islamabad. He also attended the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College in Toronto.

Overall, Raheel Sharif has received extensive military education and training throughout his career, which has helped him to become a successful and respected military leader.

Military career of Raheel Sharif:

General Raheel Sharif joined the Pakistan Army in 1976 and was commissioned in the Pakistan Army’s Punjab Regiment. He served in various command and staff appointments, including the command of an infantry division and the command of the X Corps. He was also the Inspector General for Training and Evaluation at the General Headquarters, which is the headquarters of the Pakistan Army.

During his military career, General Raheel was involved in various military operations, including the 1991 Gulf War, the 1999 Kargil War, and the ongoing war on terror in Pakistan. He was awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s second-highest civilian award, in recognition of his services to the country.

As the Chief of Army Staff, General Raheel Sharif played a key role in the Zarb-e-Azb military operation against militants in North Waziristan, which was launched in 2014. He also initiated the National Action Plan (NAP), a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy aimed at eradicating terrorism from Pakistan.

After his retirement, General Raheel Sharif was appointed as the head of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC), a military alliance of Muslim countries formed to combat terrorism. He currently serves as the President of the Riyadh-based organization.

Training of Raheel Sharif:

During his military career, Raheel received extensive training both in Pakistan and abroad. He attended the Command and Staff College in Quetta and the National Defense University in Islamabad, where he earned a master’s degree in Strategic Studies. He also received training at the Royal College of Defense Studies in the United Kingdom.

In addition to his formal education and training, Raheel gained valuable experience through his various assignments and command postings within the Pakistani Army. He served as a brigade commander in the Northern Areas, as a corps commander in Karachi, and as the Inspector General for Training and Evaluation at Army Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

Overall, Raheel Sharif’s training and experience prepared him well for his role as Chief of Army Staff, during which time he oversaw significant military operations against terrorist groups within Pakistan. His leadership and strategic planning during his tenure were widely recognized both within Pakistan and internationally.

Achievements of Raheel Sharif:

During his tenure, he achieved several accomplishments, some of which are listed below:

1. Operation Zarb-e-Azb: General Raheel Sharif launched this operation in June 2014 to eradicate terrorism from the country. The operation successfully eliminated several terrorist groups and their hideouts in the North Waziristan region.
2. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): As the Chief of Army Staff, General Raheel Sharif played a significant role in the development and security of the CPEC project, which is a game-changer for Pakistan’s economy.
3. Karachi Operation: General Raheel Sharif initiated the Karachi Operation in September 2013 to eliminate the growing menace of terrorism, target killing, and extortion in the city. The operation brought a significant decrease in crime rate and restored peace in the city.
4. Operation Khyber-IV: This operation was launched in July 2017 to eliminate the terrorist threat in the Khyber Agency. The operation achieved significant success in eliminating the terrorist hideouts and their leadership.
5. Military Courts: General Raheel played a vital role in the establishment of military courts to provide speedy justice to the victims of terrorism.
6. Enhanced Security: During General Sharif’s tenure, the security situation in the country improved significantly. The number of terrorist incidents decreased, and the overall law and order situation in the country improved.

Overall, General Raheel Sharif’s tenure as Chief of Army Staff was marked by significant achievements in the areas of counter-terrorism, infrastructure development, and ensuring the security and stability of Pakistan.

Personal life of Raheel Sharif:

Raheel Sharif was born on June 16, 1956, in Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan, to a military family. His brother, Major Shabbir Sharif, was a war hero who was awarded the Nishan-e-Haider, Pakistan’s highest military award. Raheel Sharif is married and has three children.

Not much is known about his personal interests or hobbies, as he spent most of his career in the military. However, he is known for his leadership qualities and his contribution to the fight against terrorism in Pakistan. After his retirement from the army, he became the head of the Saudi-led Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism (IMAFT), which consists of 41 Muslim-majority nations.

In conclusion, Raheel Sharif’s personal life is mostly kept private, and there is limited information available about his interests and hobbies. He is known for his successful military career and leadership qualities.

Raheel Sharif’s early years:

Throughout his military career, Raheel held various important positions, including commanding the elite 11th Infantry Division in Lahore and serving as the Inspector General Training and Evaluation at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

In November 2013, Raheel Sharif was appointed as the 15th Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army, succeeding General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani. During his tenure as the Army Chief, he oversaw several successful military operations against militant groups in Pakistan, including Operation Zarb-e-Azb and Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad.

Raheel Sharif’s formative years:

Raheel Sharif’s formative years in the army were marked by his rising through the ranks and assuming increasingly responsible positions. He served as a brigade commander in Azad Kashmir, and later as a director-general of military operations at the army’s general headquarters.

His leadership abilities were recognized when he was appointed as the commander of the 11th Infantry Division in Lahore in 2005. He was later promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and served as the corps commander of Rawalpindi. In 2013, he was appointed as the Chief of Army Staff, the highest military position in Pakistan.

Throughout his career, Raheel was known for his professionalism, discipline, and strategic thinking. He was a key player in the fight against terrorism in Pakistan and led successful military operations against the Taliban and other extremist groups.

Conclusion Of Raheel Sharif:

Raheel Sharif is a retired four-star general of the Pakistan Army, who served as the 15th Chief of Army Staff from 2013 to 2016. During his tenure, he launched several successful military operations against terrorist groups in Pakistan, such as Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad. He also initiated the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, which aims to connect Gwadar Port in southwestern Pakistan to China’s northwestern region of Xinjiang through a network of highways, railways, and pipelines.

After retiring from the army, Raheel was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC), a Saudi-led coalition of 41 Muslim countries. He also founded the Raheel Sharif Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to promote education, healthcare, and community development in Pakistan.

Raheel is widely respected for his leadership and professionalism, and is considered one of the most influential military commanders in Pakistan’s history. His contributions to the fight against terrorism and his efforts to promote economic development in Pakistan have earned him praise both domestically and internationally.

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