The appointment of the new chief of army staff (COAS) is being hailed across the country. People generally seem hopeful for Lt Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and the future of the armed forces on all fronts under his guidance.

Former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf congratulated the new COAS and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Lt Gen Zubair Mahmood Hayat.

Former foreign affairs minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi echoed the sentiment.

Former minister for law Zaheeruddin Babar Awan also congratulated the new army chief and reaffirmed his faith in the defence forces of Pakistan.

Senator Sherry Rehman said she hopes terrorism will be eradicated under the new army chief.

Renowned journalist Talat Hussain warned Qamar Bajwa for inheriting, what he called, "a pretty complex situation".

Talat Masood, an established defence analyst, in a talk show said Qamar Bajwa has extensive knowledge on Kashmir, which "should be an added incentive for India to revisit its policies on Pakistan."

However, in his opinion, the new COAS would focus more on defence affairs rather than diplomatic relations.

Shedding light on the challenges Qamar Bajwa would be facing, Dr Hasan Askari, a defence analyst, said they would be similar to what General Raheel Sharif faced as the army chief.

"Though Operation Zarb-i-Azb was completed successfully, those affected by the conflict still need to be rehabilitated," Askari said.