Masood Aslam

Education

He received his early education from Presentation Convent 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 a career in engineering, he decided to enlist as an Army officer and joined the Pakistan Military Academy in 1970.

1971 War

Within a few weeks of commission, he was seriously wounded fighting on the front lines at the Chumb-Jaurian sector.^[8] He was awarded the Imtiazi Sanad (mentioned in despatches) and the 'Gold Wound Stripe' for his efforts and gallantry.^[8]

He was among the pioneers who established the computer branch at the GHQ in the early 1970s.^{[citation needed]}

Military schooling

He has a Master's degree in War studies from Quaid-i-Azam University, attended the Pakistan Naval War College, completed the Command and Staff College (Quetta) Course, Armed Forces War Course from the National Defence College, UN Peace Keeping Course in Sweden, and a Security studies course at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Hawaii.^[10]

Military and Command Assignments

During the 1987-88 Siachen Conflict he was stationed at a towering elevation of 20,000 feet, establishing military posts. He later commanded an infantry battalion in Okara, Pakistan as a Lieutenant Colonel and then commanded two infantry brigades as a Brigadier one of which was in Minimarg, Gilgit-Baltistan. During the 1999 Kargil War, he was awarded the Sitara-i-Jurat for his efforts and bravery by President Rafiq Tarar.

From 2001 to 2002, he commanded the 23rd Infantry Division in Jhelum, then served as the Director General of National Accountability Bureau (Punjab Division).

He was promoted to LTG in 2005 and was appointed as Inspector General Training and Evaluation.^[8][10]

Extension

He was scheduled to retire in October 2009 but was the first of three generals given an extension in tenure by Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.^[11][12]

Other honors

He became the President of the Frontier Golf Association in October 2008.^[13]

Masood was awarded Imtiazi Sanad^[14] for gallantry in the 1971 War against India in the Chamb Sector and a Golden Wound Stripe^[14] when he was critically wounded while leading an attack as a platoon commander across Tawi River near Pallanwala.

In 1999, as a Brigade Commander in the Kargil Crisis, he was awarded Sitara-e-Jurat (SJ) for exceptional leadership and Gallantry.^[14]

In 2005, He was awarded Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) for his meritorious services.^[14]

And in 2010, Lt Gen Masood was awarded Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Civilian) for his contribution towards bringing peace in Swat Region.^[14]

Memorial trust established

In January 2010, Masood established the Shaheed Hashim Masood Memorial Trust, in honour of his son who was a victim of the 2009 Parade Lane Mosque attack. The trust registered with the Government of Pakistan in the same month.^[15]

The first donor gathering for the trust was held on 12 December 2010, wherein Masood stated that the goals of the trust are to provide employment, education, entrepreneurial opportunities, and humanitarian assistance for the 2010 Pakistan Flood affected people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.^[16]

Diplomatic career

He was posted as Pakistan Ambassador to Mexico in June 2011 until July 2013.^{[citation needed]}