Pakistan Army on Thursday announced the appointment of Major General Babar Iftikhar as new director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Major General Babar Iftikhar will replace Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor as new spokesperson for Pakistan Army.

According to the ISPR, Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar studied from Quetta Law College and graduated from NDU Islamabad, where he also taught as faculty member later on. The new DG ISPR is also a graduate from the Royal Jordanian Command and Staff College (RJCSC).

Apart from teaching at the NDU, the major general also taught at the Pakistan Military Academy.

The ISPR said Maj Gen Iftikhar has vast experience in command, staff and instruction. He also served as a brigade-major and brigade staff for an infantry division in North Waziristan.

During the operation Zarb-e-Azb, Maj Gen Iftikhar also commanded the armored and infantry brigades.

Maj Gen Ghafoor has been transferred to the 40th Infantry Division (Okara) as the general officer commanding (GOC).

In a tweet, Maj Gen Ghafoor thanked everyone associated with him during his tenure as the DG ISPR. "Thanks to everyone I have remained associated with during the tenure. My very special thanks to media all across. Can't thank enough fellow Pakistanis for their love and support.

Best wishes to new DG ISPR for his success," Maj Gen Ghafoor wrote on Twitter from the @OfficialDGISPR handle as news of his transfer broke. He had headed the military's media wing since December 2016.

He also tweeted from his personal Twitter account, expressing gratitude towards the people for the love and support he received during his tenure as the DG ISPR. "Stay strong, continue doing your bit for Pakistan. Stay blessed," he wrote.