UN Secretary-General has announced the appointment of Pakistani Maj. General Jawad Ahmed as new Force Commander of the MINURSO in replacement of Maj. General Md Fakhrul Ahsan of Bangladesh, who completed his assignment on 2 August 2026. In a press release, the UN says General Ahmed brings to this position over 35 years of leadership and operational experience in the Pakistan Army and United Nations peacekeeping. He served as Director General in the Ministry of Defense in Rawalpindi, overseeing command and control, local governance and administration of all cantonment areas nationwide, comprising over 5.3 million citizens. Prior to this, he was the General Officer Commanding of an Infantry Division, Director General of the Inspection and Evaluation Directorate at General Headquarters, and Force Commander Northern Areas. Earlier in his career, he served with the Pakistani Battalion in the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium, Croatia.