Muhammad Raza Aizad

Major General Muhammad Raza Aizad HI(M)
Allegiance	Pakistan
Service / branch	Pakistan Army
Years of service	1992 — present
Rank	Major general
Unit	15 Baloch Regiment
Commands	DG ISSRA, National Defence University GOC of 11th Infantry Division
Awards	Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence) Award by the President of Pakistan in 2024 [1] Sword of Honour
Alma mater	Cadet College Hasanabdal Pakistan Military Academy

Muhammad Raza Aizad ^[a] is a two-star general (major general) of the Pakistan Army who is, as of 2025, serving as the Director General; Institute For Strategic Studies, Research and Analysis; National Defence University. ^[2] The institute is a Pakistani think tank focused on strategic studies and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.

Military career

Raza was commissioned on 15 October 1992 via the "86 Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Long Course." ^[3] As a PMA "gentleman cadet" he was awarded the Sword of Honour, indicating that he graduated as the top-performing cadet in his class. ^[3] He is also a 2024 recipient of the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence), awarded by the President of Pakistan; The Crescent of Excellence is Pakistan's second-highest (peacetime) award. ^[1]

Upon his promotion to the rank of major general, he was appointed as the general officer commanding of the 11th Infantry Division. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

As of 2025, he is serving as the "Director General" of the Institute For Strategic Studies, Research and Analysis (ISSRA), located at the National Defence University of Pakistan in Islamabad. The ISSRA is a strategic studies "think tank" and is self-described as "...an elite and highly credible intellectual forum known for its objective and critical analysis of subjects related to the Global Security and National Security of Pakistan within the contemporary environment" It also claims to seek "...intellectual contribution in an era of strategic realignments and changing world order, both at Military as well as National Policy level." ^{[7] [8]}

Notes

1. Urdu: محمد رضا ایزاد

References

1. "President confers military awards". The Express Tribune newspaper. Associated Press of Pakistan. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
2. "Muhammad Raza Aizad, Director General, ISSRA - Institute For Strategic Studies, Research and Analysis". issra.pk website. Archived from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
3. "Sword of Honour Winners, PMA, Kakul, Abbotabad". The Pakistan Page. 10 June 2015. Archived from the original on 18 April 2025. Retrieved 8 May 2025. 86 PMA Long Course (15 Oct 1992): ASUO Muhammad Raza Aizad . Commissioned in 15 Baluch Regt.
4. cch (12 February 2022). "Guest Speakers Series 2022". Cadet College Hasanabdal website. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
5. "36 Brigadiers promoted to rank of Major General". The Frontier Post newspaper. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
6. "36 brigadiers promoted to major general". Dawn newspaper. Associated Press of Pakistan. 14 March 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
7. "Visit of the National Defence University of Pakistan at NDC". Nato Defence College website. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
8. "ISSRA" . Retrieved 14 May 2025.