GEN Sahir Shamshad Mirza has had an impressive career in the army. He was commissioned into the army after passing out from PMA`s 76th Long Course in 1987. He joined the Sindh Regiment. Gen Mirza has a vast experience of serving in senior leadership position during past seven years. He came to prominence as director-general military operations (DGMO) during the last two years of Gen Raheel Sharif`s tenure. In that role, he was part of Gen Sharif`s core team at GHQ,which supervised the military operation against the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militants in North Waziristan.

Further, he was closely involved in the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) that brokered intra-Afghan talks involving Pakistan, China, Afghanistan and the United States. Besides, he was also a member of the Sartaj Aziz-led committee on reforms for Gilgit-Baltistan. Prior to serving as DGMO, Gen Mirza commanded 40th Infantry Division in Dera Ismail Khan. The division has now moved to Okara. Later he also served as Vice Chief of General Staff (VCGS-A). Besides, he has served in United Nationsled operations in foreign countries and was conferred with UN Medal for Service in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL Medal).

Af ter his promotion to the three-star rank in April 2019, he was initially appointed as adjutant general and later as chief of general staf f, ef fectively making him the secondmost powerful person in the army af ter the COAS. In that role, he was closely engaged in crucial decision-making related to national security and foreign affairs. He also joined former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in strategic talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in 2021. In October 2021, he was posted as Corps Commander Rawalpindi to enable him to acquire operational experience and become eligible to be considered for the top posts.