ISLAMABAD: Through a notification on Monday, Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s service period has been extended as the army chief for three years viewing the tense situation on the eastern border with India.

The extension in tenure has been made on order of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

“Gen Qamar Javed Bajwah is appointed Chief or Army Staff for another three years from the date of completion of his current tenure. The decision has been taken in view of the regional security environment,” read the notification issued by the Prime Minister’s Office in this regard.

The decision has been taken about three months ahead of expiring of his tenure. The 58-year-old was appointed as the 10^th army chief of Pakistan in November 2016 by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government.

He was born in November 1960 in Karachi. Before joining Pakistan Army, he was educated at the Sir Syed College and Gordon College in Rawalpindi.

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Qamar Bajwa was appointed as commissioned officer in 1980 in the 16th Battalion of the Baloch Regiment. Prior to his appointment as the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan Army, he had served at the Army General Headquarters as the Inspector General of the Training and Evaluation from September 2015 to November 2016.

He was appointed as field commander of the X Corps from August 2013 to September 2015 which is responsible for the area along the Line of Control at Kashmir. In addition, he served as a Brigadier in the UN mission in Congo and as a brigade commander in 2007.