Auld lang syne; General.

'Auld Lang Syne' is a popular song, particularly in the EngAlish-speaking world. TradiAtionally, it is sung to bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. By extenAsion, it is also often heard at graduations and as a farewell or ending to other occasions', including farewell to arms by officers and soldiers. Pakistan Army has extensively played this tune on farewells and passing out parades of officers at Pakistan MiliAtary Academy Kakul.

As Pakistan meanders through its evAerlasting challenges, it says goodbye to its Army Chief, who, unfortunately, had to bear the brunt of a barrage of critiAcism by friends and foes, there is a need to reflect on his legacy and contribuAtions. A look through hindsight to reAflect upon challenges faced by Pakistan in the past six years would be a good paArameter to Judge General Bajwa's role in helping Pakistan through a storm of instability and chaos.

Immediately after he was appointed as Army Chief on 29 November 2016 by the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, on 6 December 2016 Hindustan Times ran a story about his ability to underAstand India with the title 'Pakistan's new army chief Bajwa 'knows a lot about what India thinks', the throwaway comAment suggested General Bajwa, who has served on the LoC and once commandAed the Rawalpindi-based X Corps that is responsible for operations along the ceasefire line, could adopt an approach different from that of his predecessors. According to former colleagues, BaAjwa's keen interest in India went back to his days as a young major serving on the LoC in 1992. That was when, they say, he began reading about India and discussing developments in the neighAbouring country and the region with other officers.

Highly decorated within and withAout Pakistan, Gen Bajwa has the disAtinction to receive international awards from friendly countries and the UnitAed Nations, this includes the UN MOANUC (Congo) Medal, the Turkish Legion of Merit, The Order of Military MerAit by Jordan, GUSP Medal For Merit of the Russian Federation, The Order of Bahrain, 1st Class, Order of King Abdul Aziz (1st Class) by KSA and Order of the Union Medal by the UAE govt. The interAnational span of these awards indicates his ability to project Pakistan's case in the field of military diplomacy and forge relationships with friendly countries to help Pakistan advance its interests.

On his assumption of command, PakiAstan was faced with the dual triple secuArity challenge...