Major General Dr. Ghulam Qamar, HI(M) (Retd), is a distinguished strategic affairs practitioner, and educationist with extensive experience in operational command, counterterrorism, doctrine development, professional military education, and institutional leadership.

He currently serves as Director General Religious Education in the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training.

Commissioned into an infantry regiment of the Pakistan Army in June 1983, Major General Qamar held a wide range of operational, command, staff and instructional appointments.

He served at the Siachen Glacier, commanded an infantry battalion along the Line of Control (LoC) and led two infantry brigades, including one deployed in North Waziristan during counterterrorism operations.

He subsequently commanded an infantry division with operational responsibility for Swat, Dir, and Chitral. Earlier in his career, he also served with the United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM-II).

At General Headquarters, he served as Director General Doctrine and Evaluation. His final military appointment was Director General of the Institute for Strategic Studies, Research and Analysis at the National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad. He also served on the faculties of the Pakistan Military Academy, the Command and Staff College, Quetta, and the War College at the NDU.

Major General Qamar is a graduate of the Command and Staff College, Quetta, and the National Defence Universities of Pakistan and China. He holds master's degrees in the Art and Science of Warfare, Defence Studies, and Defence and Strategic Studies. He earned his PhD from Cranfield University, United Kingdom, where his research examined the role of Pakistan's education system in the processes of radicalization and deradicalization.

He has represented Pakistan at numerous international forums and delivered lectures on sub-conventional warfare, counterterrorism, radicalization, deradicalization and national security. As the author of Sub Conventional Warfare Doctrine for Pakistan, he has made a significant contribution to the country's doctrinal development and understanding of contemporary security challenges.

Having visited around 43 countries, he has gained broad exposure to international relations, diverse security environments and comparative institutional practices. He is an avid reader and a keen golfer.

In recognition of his distinguished and meritorious service, he was awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military).

Major General Qamar's association with the GPS Forum adds value to its work on counterterrorism, sub-conventional warfare, doctrine development, professional military education and institutional leadership.