Gen Kayani to be offered extension
Ashraf Ansari
Islamabad— While Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani might have started contemplating handing of command baton to his successor like Pervez Musharraf did on November 9, 2008 at an impressive ceremony, it was reliably learnt that a plan was very much in minds of the government that would leave the baton in Gen. Kayani’s hands for another two years.
This scribe came to believe, on the basis of credible information that President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani have almost completed their process of consultation regarding extension in service span of the incumbent Chief of Army Staff. It is believed that they both highly appreciate professional competence, acumen, strategic insight, commitment, courage and sagacity being displayed by General Kayani since he came to hold baton/reign of Pakistan Army Command.
Believably, policy-makers at the Presidency and the Prime Minister House highly rate General Kayani for his meticulously planned operations code-named ‘Rah-e-Nijat’ and ‘Rah-e-Rast’ against terrorists which have been highly successful. The army under his command has rendered supreme sacrifices in restoring writ of the government in Swat, Malakand, Khyber Agency and Waziristan and that has greatly rehabilitated popularity of Pakistan Armed Forced
What has further impressed the President and the Prime Minister is that General Kayani is ardent supporter of democratic system and it is recognised that he has cleansed the army of political inclinations, making it fully professional committed to defending Pakistan’s frontiers. There are also indications that General Kayani also enjoys respectability and credibility in the command chain of U.S led forces in Afghanistan.
Observers believe that in view of General Kayani’s achievements and the fact that military actions against militants and insurgents are in the final stage in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, it is almost certain that the President as Supreme Commander of nation’s armed forces, would offer Gen. Kayani extension in his service, by two years. That would also be an acknowledgement of General Kayani’s outstanding service to the nation.
This scribe has also learnt that ISI Chief Lt. General Ahmed Shuja Pasha is also being considered for extension in service in recognition of his highly commendable role as Chief Spy Master in operations against militants.
It is further learnt that General Pasha, as Director General Military Operations, first acquired full familiarity with every inch of the rugged areas on both sides of the Durand Line and later as the boss of the ISI he is, perhaps, the only general who exactly knows what is going on in the FATA and even inside Afghanistan. “It will be height of foolishness to change the horses at this point of time,” said a retired general in Rawalpindi. “Even the US would be supportive of the continuity of General Pasha,” the retired general further said.