New York: Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Major General Jawwad Ahmed of Pakistan as the new Force Commander for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). Major General Ahmed replaces Major General Md Fakhrul Ahsan of Bangladesh, whose term ended on August 2, 2026.

According to United Nations Pakistan, Major General Ahmed brings over 35 years of leadership and operational experience from the Pakistan Army and United Nations peacekeeping. He previously served as Director General in the Ministry of Defence in Rawalpindi, where he was responsible for the command and control of cantonment areas across the country, affecting over 5.3 million citizens. His past roles include General Officer Commanding of an Infantry Division and Director General of the Inspection and Evaluation Directorate at General Headquarters.

Major General Ahmed’s experience extends to senior appointments such as Brigade Commander and Chief Instructor at the National Command and Staff College in Quetta. His international experience includes service with the Pakistani Battalion in the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium in Croatia. He holds advanced degrees in warfare, public policy, and security management, with education from institutions in Pakistan and the United Kingdom. He is proficient in English and French, alongside his native Urdu.