Masood Aslam

Muhammad Masood Aslam
Pakistan Ambassador to Mexico
In office 2011 – 2013 July
Commander XI Corps Peshawar
In office April 2007 – April 2010
IG of Training & Evaluation
In office 2005–2007
DG NAB
In office 2003–2005
GOC 23rd Infantry Division, Jhelum
In office 2001–2003
Personal details
Born	(1952-09-01) September 1, 1952 Mujahidabad, Jhelum District, Pakistan
Children	Hashim Masood Aslam
Military service
Allegiance	Pakistan
Branch/service	Pakistan Army
Years of service	1971 – 2010
Rank	Lt. Gen.
Unit	4, 39 & 54 Punjab Regiment
Commands	XI Corps, Peshawar IG Training and Evaluation (IGT&E) DG National Accountability Bureau 23rd Infantry Division, Jhelum
Battles/wars	Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 Siachen conflict Indo-Pakistani War of 1999 War in North-West Pakistan Taliban Waziristan Offensive (2007) First Battle of Swat (2007) Battle of Mirali (2007) Battle of Bajaur (2008-09 Operation Zalzala (2008) Operation Black Thunderstorm (2009) Operation Rah-e-Rast (2009) Mohmand Offensive (2009) Operation Rah-e-Nijat (2009)
Awards	Gold Wound Strip Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) Sitara-e-Jurat Hijri Tamgha

Lieutenant-General Muhammad Masood Aslam, HI, HI(M), SJ, afwc, psc, (born September 1, 1952, at Jhelum) is a retired three-star rank general officer who served almost 40 years in the Pakistan Army.

He was the principal commander of the XI Corps and he commanded the unified chain of command fighting the pro-Tehrik-e-Taliban forces in the North-West Pakistan from 2007 to 2010, specifically servicing as the Colonel Commandant of Punjab Regiment from 2008 to 2010. Masood directed and oversaw the major operations against the militants, including First Battle of Swat, operations Zalzala, Sherdil, Rah-e-Rast and the Rah-e-Nijat. />

Initial education

Lt Gen Masood Aslam was born in Mujahidabad, Jhelum in the northern Punjab. He got his early education from Presentation Convent High School, Jhelum and Government High School, Jhelum. By the year 1965, he joined Cadet College Hasan Abdal and did his intermediate in pre engineering in 1970 with honours from the same college. However, instead of pursuing career in engineering, he decided to serve as an Army officer and joined the Pakistan Military Academy in 1970.

Personal life

On 4 December 2009 Hashim Masood Aslam, a student of the College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering in Rawalpindi and the only son of Lt. Gen. Masood Aslam, was a victim of the 2009 Parade Lane Mosque terrorist attack during Friday prayer.

Army career

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

He was commissioned in the 4th Battalion of the Punjab Regiment (known as Beasi) on 14 November 1971 in the 47th PMA Long Course as his course was shortened due to East Pakistan crisis of 1971. Within a few weeks of commissioning, he was seriously wounded fighting in the front lines at Chumb-Jaurian sector. He was awarded Imtiazi Sanad (mentioned in despatches) and the 'Golden wound stripe' for his efforts and gallantry.

Military training

He was among the pioneer officers who established the computer branch at the GHQ in early 1970s. He is a graduate of Command and Staff College, Quetta, armed forces war course (Afwc), and holds a master's degree in War Studies from the National Defence College, Qaid e Azam University Islamabad. He has also attended overseas courses including United Nations peacekeeping course from Sweden and a Security Studies course from Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Honolulu, Hawaii.

1987-2003 Siachen Conflict

He served at Siachen for more than a year in the early days of Siachen conflict with India. He established military posts at Siachen and served at glaciated heights of around 20,000 feet. As a Lt. Col, he commanded an Infantry battalion at Okara and then as a Brigadier-General, commanded two infantry brigades, one of which was at Minimarg in Gilgit Baltistan.

1999 Kargil War (Indo-Pakistani War)

He was awarded Sitara-i-Jurat for his extraordinary service and bravery by the then President Rafiq Tarar, after the Kargil encounter.

2001-02 military standoff and staff assignments

He commanded 23rd Infantry Division Jhelum on the LoC during the period of escalation, when Indian and Pakistani troops were tied up face to face in a very tense warlike state for two full years in 2001–03. He then served as the Director General NAB (Punjab), and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in 2005 and posted as Inspector General Training and Evaluation (IGT&E).

Commander Peshawar Corps

2007 Taliban Waziristan Offensive

Lt Gen Masood Aslam took charge of the sensitive post of Corps Commander Peshawar, also known as XI Corps, replacing Lt Gen Muhammad Hamid Khan. This was period when Pakistan Army launched military operation against the vigilantes of Lal Masjid in Islamabad that followed with a rising trend of terrorist attacks throughout Pakistan, mostly emanating from the rugged lands of Waziristan and the surrounding tribal regions. A counter-terrorist operation was then launched under the general.

Swat, Buner, Dir Lower

Lt Gen Masood Aslam pushed out defeated the militants in Swat, Buner, Dir Lower and other districts of Malakand Division and inflicting heavy blows against the TTP cadres in Bajaur, Mohmand and Khyber tribal agencies and Frontier Region (FR) Bannu. Lt General Masood Aslam was given an extension in his tenure as he was supposed to retire in October 2009.

2007 First Battle of Swat

In the First Battle of Swat, also known as Operation Rah-e-Haq, Masood led the fight between Pakistan and the Taliban over control of the Swat District of Pakistan.

2008-09 Battle of Bajaur

In the Battle of Bajaur, also known as Operation Sherdil, Masood led this military offensive in the Bajaur region of Pakistan launched by the Frontier Corps and supported by a Combat Brigade of the Pakistan Army in which the Bajaur area had been under Taliban control since early 2007, and was said to be Al-Qaeda's main command and control hub for operations in Northeast Afghanistan, including Kunar province.

2008 Operation Zalzala

In Operation Zalzala, also known as Operation Earthquake, Masood commanded the first major Pakistan Army military offensive and counter-insurgent operation in South Waziristan which was commenced on January 18, 2008.

2009 Operation Black Thunderstorm

In Operation Black Thunderstorm, Lt. Gen Masood Aslam led a military operation conducted by the Pakistan Army, with the aim of retaking Buner, Lower Dir, Swat and Shangla districts from the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan after the militants took control of them since the start of the year.

2009 Rah-e-Rast

Also known as The Second Battle of Swat, Lt. Gen Masood Aslam led Operation Rah-e-Rast and involved the Pakistani Army and Taliban militants in a fight for control of the Swat district of Pakistan.

2009 Mohmand Offensive

In the Mohmand Offensive, also known as Operation Brekhna/Thunder, Lt. Gen Masood Aslam led a Pakistani military operation against the Tehrik-i-Taliban in the Mohmand Agency area of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

2009 Operation Rah-e-Nijat

In Operation Rah-e-Nijat, also known as Path to Salvation, Lt. Gen Masood Aslam led a strategic offensive military operation by the unified command of Pakistan Armed Forces against the Tehrik-i-Taliban/TTP and their allies in the South Waziristan area of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas that began on June 19.)

Other honors

Elected President of the Frontier Golf Association (FGA) in 2008.

Post-retirement

Lieutenant General Muhammad Masood Aslam was awarded Hilal-i-Imtiaz in 2010. He was later posted as Pakistan Ambassador to Mexico in June 2011 for a three-year tenure.

Awards and decorations

Parachutist Badge
Gold Wound Stripe
	Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Crescent of Excellence)
Sitara-e-Jurat (Star of Courage)	Tamgha-e-Diffa (General Service Medal) Siachen Glacier Clasp	Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War (War Star 1971)	Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War (War Medal 1971)
Tamgha-e-Diffa (General Service Medal) Siachen Glacier Clasp	Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War (War Star 1971)	Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War (War Medal 1971)	Tamgha-e-Baqa (Nuclear Test Medal) 1998
Tamgha-e-Baqa (Nuclear Test Medal) 1998	Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan (Escalation with India Medal) 2002	10 Years Service Medal	20 Years Service Medal
30 Years Service Medal	35 Years Service Medal	Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e- Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam (100th Birth Anniversary of Muhammad Ali Jinnah)	Hijri Tamgha (Hijri Medal) 1979
Jamhuriat Tamgha (Democracy Medal) 1988	Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha (Resolution Day Golden Jubilee Medal) 1990	Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan (Independence Day Golden Jubilee Medal) 1997	Command and Staff College Quetta Centenary Student's Medal (2007)