Ayman Bilal
Ayman Bilal Safdar | |
|---|---|
| Commander of I Corps | |
| In office September 2022 – May 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Shaheen Mazhar Mehmood |
| Succeeded by | Nauman Zakaria |
| Inspector General Frontier Corps Balochistan (South) | |
| In office December 2020 – October 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Sarfaraz Ali |
| Succeeded by | Kamal Anwar Chaudhry |
| Personal details | |
| Alma mater | Pakistan Military Academy Command and Staff College Quetta |
| Awards | Hilal-i-Imtiaz[1] |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Pakistan |
| Branch/service | Pakistan Army |
| Years of service | 1989–2024 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Unit | 118 Medium Artillery Regiment |
| Commands | |
| Battles/wars | Insurgency in Balochistan MONUSCO |
Ayman Bilal Safdar is a retired three-star general in the Pakistan Army, who last served as the Commander of I Corps.[2][3]
Military career
Safdar was commissioned into the 118 Medium Artillery Regiment via 80th PMA Long Course.[4]
Over his service of 35 years, he held several prominent roles. He served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 8th Infantry Division based in Sialkot, as well as Chief Instructor A Division at the National Defence University in Islamabad.[5]
In December 2020, he was appointed as the Inspector General of Frontier Corps Balochistan (South), a role he held until October 2021.[6][7][8]
In September 2022, Safdar was promoted from Major General to the rank of Lieutenant General.[9]
In 2022, he was appointed as Corps Commander of I Corps stationed in Mangla, one of Pakistan Army's key strike formations. He served at MONUSCO as foreign attachment.[10][11]
Retirement
In April 2024, his early retirement was accepted by the federal government amid reports suggesting internal reshuffling at the higher echelons of the Pakistan Army.[12] But his retirement raised question as he criticised the army chief Asim Munir.[13] Senior journalist Asad Ali Toor stated "His resignation is not a simple incident. It is not easily digestible. His thinking is seen to not have been in alignment with Munir’s and perhaps that is why he was sidelined and had to resign."[14]
Controversy
In 2021, in an interview with Bangladeshi newspaper Daily Sun, Ayman Bilal said "China deployed me here to crush the Baloch movement. I have been given six months to do so."[15][16] In that interview Bill also commented that Iran is the biggest enemy of Pakistan now.[17]
References
- ^ Raza, Syed Irfan (25 March 2021). "President confers military awards". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ "Lt. Gen. Ayman Bilal Safdar quits Pakistan Army amid rising tensions with Asim Munir". News Intervention. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ Syed, Baqir Sajjad (11 May 2024). "Peshawar, Mangla corps commanders appointed". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ BANERJI, RANA. "Did Pak Army Chief Sack This General?". Rediff. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ Reporter, TT Staff (18 April 2024). "لیفٹیننٹ جنرل (ر) ایمن بلال استعفٰی نہ دیتے تو ان کا کورٹ مارشل ہو سکتا تھا، سینئر صحافی". The Thursday Times. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ "Mangla Corps Commander, next in line to COAS, forced to retire for opposing General Asim Munir". The Pakistan Military Monitor. 17 April 2024. Archived from the original on 13 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ "Maj Gen Ayman Bilal Safdar posted IG FC (South) Balochistan". 24 News HD. 20 January 2021. Archived from the original on 7 February 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ APP (13 January 2021). "IGFC South meets Balochistan governor". Brecorder. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ "12 Major Generals promoted to Lt General's rank". The Nation. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ "Controversy over resignation of Pakistan Army's Lieutenant General Bilal Safdar". Rakshak News. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ Syed, Baqir Sajjad (11 May 2024). "Peshawar, Mangla corps commanders appointed". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ "Lt Gen Ayman Bilal Safdar retires as Mangla Corps Commander". Dawn. 15 April 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ Banerji, Rana (16 April 2024). "Did Pak Army Chief Sack This General?". Rediff.com. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ Chakraborty, Debdutta (16 April 2024). "Top Pakistani General resigns. Media says he stood up to the establishment, COAS Asim Munir". ThePrint. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ Tanuja (1 February 2021). "पाक आर्मी जनरल का सनसनीखेज खुलासा- " चीन ने मुझे बलूच आंदोलन कुचलने के लिए किया तैनात"". Punjab Kesari (in Hindi).
- ^ Bajpai, Richa (3 February 2021). "कौन है वो पाकिस्तान का जनरल, जिसने खोली चीन की पोल, दी बलूचिस्तान को लेकर बड़ी जानकारी". TV9 Bharatvarsh (in Hindi). Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ Rao, Madhu (1 February 2021). "China has deployed me to crush Baloch movement: Pak general Ayman Bilal". India TV News. Retrieved 2 February 2026.