Former Pakistan Army Chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa passed away on Saturday. He was 65. His death removes a historical architect of South Asian geopolitics during a period of extreme global volatility, as escalating conflicts involving the US, Israel, and Iran continue to destabilize the broader Middle East. The former military leader succumbed to severe head injuries sustained during a sudden collapse last month.
The medical emergency began in February 2026. General Bajwa suffered a Third-Degree Atrioventricular (AV) heart block. The severe cardiac event caused him to faint and fall in his washroom. He was immediately rushed to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Rawalpindi.
The fall caused catastrophic physical trauma. He sustained three hairline skull fractures, internal bleeding, and a brain hemorrhage, according to a detailed report tracking his hospitalization. Medical staff at CMH performed major surgery to address the internal bleeding. The procedure was initially deemed successful.
General Bajwa was placed in the Intensive Care Unit. Doctors installed a temporary pacemaker to stabilize his heart. His condition ultimately deteriorated in the weeks following the surgery.
He served as Pakistan’s 10th Chief of Army Staff from November 2016 until his retirement in November 2022. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif initially appointed him to the role. His tenure was later extended for an additional three years in 2019 under the administration of then-Prime Minister Imran Khan. He navigated the military establishment through a deeply complex era in the world before stepping away from public life.
He had largely remained out of the public eye since his retirement late in 2022. Major regional outlets, including Dawn and Geo News, tracked the progression of his hospitalization throughout February and March until his passing.