Rizwan Akhtar

Rizwan Akhtar (Urdu: رضوان اختر) is a former three-star rank Pakistan Army general. He is a former spymaster who served as Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).[2] He took office on 8 November 2014. On 8th Oct 2017, he announced his pre-mature retirement from service[1]

Lt. Gen.
Rizwan Akhtar
رضوان اختر
President of National Defence University, Islamabad
In office
11 December 2016[1] – 9 October 2017
21st Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence
In office
7 November 2014 – 11 December 2016
PresidentMamnoon Hussain
Prime MinisterNawaz Sharif
Preceded byZaheer-ul-Islam
Succeeded byNaveed Mukhtar
Director-General of Sindh Rangers
Nickname(s)Spy Master
Military service
Allegiance Pakistan
Branch/service Pakistan Army
Rank Lieutenant-General
CommandsPresident National Defence University, Islamabad
DG ISI
DG Rangers Sindh

Military career

Rizwan Akhtar was commissioned in the Pakistan Army in the Frontier Force Regiment in September 1982. He commanded an infantry brigade and infantry division in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) after served as Operation and Planning Officer at Peshawar Corps. Previously as Sindh DG Rangers, Major General Rizwan Akhtar had been assigned with the task to lead the Karachi operation. Akhtar is also considered to have extensive experience of counterinsurgency from a previous posting in the border region of South Waziristan. After getting promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in September 2014, he was posted as Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence. Lately he was President National Defense University but recently took pre-mature retirement from service in October 2017.[1][2]

Academic career

Rizwan Akhtar is a graduate of the Command and Staff College in Quetta, National Defense University, Islamabad (NDU) and United States Army War College, Pennsylvania, USA. At the US Army War College, Akhtar authored a strategy research project report titled ‘US-Pakistan trust deficit and the war on terror’ in fulfillment of the requirements of the Master in Strategic Studies Degree.[3]

Awards and decorations
Hilal-e-Shujaat

(Gallantry Medal)

2015

 Hilal-i-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Crescent of Excellence)

 Tamgha-e-Baqa

(Nuclear Test Medal)

1998

Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan

(Escalation with India Medal)

2002

 10 Years Service Medal

(1990)

 20 Years Service Medal

(2000)

 30 Years Service Medal

(2010)

35 Years Service Medal

(2015)

 Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e-Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam

(100th Birth Anniversary of Muhammad Ali Jinnah)

1976

 Hijri Tamgha

(Hijri Medal)

1979

 Jamhuriat Tamgha (Democracy Medal)

1988

Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha

(Pakistan Resolution Day Golden Jubilee Medal)

1990

 Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan

(Independence Day Golden Jubilee Medal) 1997

 Command and Staff College Quetta Centenary Instructor's Medal

2007

 UN MONUC, Congo Medal

(2 Deployments)

References
  1. Syed, Baqir Sajjad (11 December 2016). "Rizwan Akhtar takes over as ISI chief". Dawn. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  2. "Lt-Gen Rizwan Akhtar named ISI chief". Dawn. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  3. Boone, Jon (22 September 2014). "Pakistan appoints Rizwan Akhtar to head intelligence agency". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
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