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Found this interesting interview of General Khalid Kidwai so thought to share it here.
Lieutenant General (retired) Khalid Kidwai is advisor to Pakistan’s National Command Authority and pioneer Director General of Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division, which he headed for an unprecedented 15 years. He is one of the most decorated generals in Pakistan and was awarded the highest civil award Nishan-i-Imtiaz, as well as Hilal-i-Imtiaz and Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military). Winner of the Sword of Honor at Pakistan's Military Academy, he later saw frontline combat action in erstwhile East Pakistan and was a prisoner of war in Pakistan’s 1971 war with India. General Kidwai conceived, articulated and executed Pakistan’s nuclear policy and deterrence doctrines into a tangible and robust nuclear force structure. General Kidwai is also the architect of Pakistan’s civilian Nuclear Energy Program and National Space Program.
For the last fifteen years, Pakistan’s nuclear program hasn’t had too many individuals remaining constantly at the heart of it all. One man who stuck around from the nuclear tests in the late 1990s to the present day was Lieutenant General Khalid Kidwai, who has been the head of Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division (SPD) since 2000.
Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division (SPD) handles the operation, maintenance, and security of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program. Kidwai’s performance at the SPD earned him the respect of of Pakistan’s civilian and military leaders, who have offered him extension after extension, allowing him to continue as the head of the SPD beyond his formal retirement in 2007. He has received 12 such offers from the government, and his decision to retire in 2013 is a result of him refusing another extension.
Kidwai’s experience in the Pakistan nuclear program seems to be unmatched. As such, certain observers speculate that “Kidwai may get another important assignment related to the security and strategic affairs including that of PM’s advisor on national security or a presidential advisor dealing with the strategic issues.” According to Pakistan’s The Nation, Kidwai holds the superlative for the longest posting in Pakistan’s strategic defense establishment. Kidwai’s career was largely facilitated by General Pervez Musharraf, first in his capacity as Chief of Army Staff and then as President of Pakistan. Musharraf ensured in 2007 that Kidwai would remain in the SPD after his early retirement.
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Lieutenant General (retired) Khalid Kidwai is advisor to Pakistan’s National Command Authority and pioneer Director General of Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division, which he headed for an unprecedented 15 years. He is one of the most decorated generals in Pakistan and was awarded the highest civil award Nishan-i-Imtiaz, as well as Hilal-i-Imtiaz and Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military). Winner of the Sword of Honor at Pakistan's Military Academy, he later saw frontline combat action in erstwhile East Pakistan and was a prisoner of war in Pakistan’s 1971 war with India. General Kidwai conceived, articulated and executed Pakistan’s nuclear policy and deterrence doctrines into a tangible and robust nuclear force structure. General Kidwai is also the architect of Pakistan’s civilian Nuclear Energy Program and National Space Program.
For the last fifteen years, Pakistan’s nuclear program hasn’t had too many individuals remaining constantly at the heart of it all. One man who stuck around from the nuclear tests in the late 1990s to the present day was Lieutenant General Khalid Kidwai, who has been the head of Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division (SPD) since 2000.
Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division (SPD) handles the operation, maintenance, and security of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program. Kidwai’s performance at the SPD earned him the respect of of Pakistan’s civilian and military leaders, who have offered him extension after extension, allowing him to continue as the head of the SPD beyond his formal retirement in 2007. He has received 12 such offers from the government, and his decision to retire in 2013 is a result of him refusing another extension.
Kidwai’s experience in the Pakistan nuclear program seems to be unmatched. As such, certain observers speculate that “Kidwai may get another important assignment related to the security and strategic affairs including that of PM’s advisor on national security or a presidential advisor dealing with the strategic issues.” According to Pakistan’s The Nation, Kidwai holds the superlative for the longest posting in Pakistan’s strategic defense establishment. Kidwai’s career was largely facilitated by General Pervez Musharraf, first in his capacity as Chief of Army Staff and then as President of Pakistan. Musharraf ensured in 2007 that Kidwai would remain in the SPD after his early retirement.
