President Zardari awards top military honor to National Strategic Command chief

President Asif Ali Zardari presented the Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military), Pakistan's highest military honor, to General Aamer Raza, the commander of the National Strategic Command. The investiture ceremony took place at Aiwan-i-Sadr in Islamabad.

This conferment follows President Zardari's approval on July 31 for General Raza to receive the prestigious award. The ceremony was a significant gathering, attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, along with other high-ranking military and government officials.

General Raza's recent ascent includes his promotion to the rank of a four-star general in July. He was subsequently appointed as the Commander of the National Strategic Command (CNSC). This newly established command was created under the 27th Constitutional Amendment last year. The amendment significantly altered the military's chain of command, with the CNSC now responsible for nuclear management, a role previously held by the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), which has since been abolished.

General Raza is a decorated officer, having previously been awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) and the Sitara-i-Basalat (Star of Valour). His leadership of the National Strategic Command places him at the forefront of Pakistan's strategic nuclear affairs.