To make a major strategy decision you need broad consensus......unlike before, there is greater consensus now regarding how we combat militancy. I think in HINDSIGHT not enough was done previously especially after attack on GHQ and the back-stabbing by groups like TNSM which bombed girls schools (after the so-called "peace talks" and "cease fire" in 2008).
MY honest assessment:
Pros
-He placed huge emphasis on troops morale and on investing more on the soldiers (new uniforms, combat gear/equipment, modernization etc). Under his watch the Pakistani Army truly became a modernized and formidable fighting force.
-He was a soldier's soldier.....during Eid he would be with troops, not with family. During Rah e Nejat operation he flew in an F16 to oversee the insurgency hit areas with his own eyes (few Army Chiefs would do that)
-Supported strong institutions/democracy and political maturity, helped be a mediator when the civilians were busy being azzholes with their vendettas
-Was a reserved and calculated person....not very vocal, listened to views of others but didnt speak too much (also a con?)
Cons
-Took over an Army which until early/mid 2010 was not fully experienced enough to deal fully with counter-insurgency (as opposed to conventional war) -though this changed rather quickly through good leadership at all command levels
-Preferring to hear others talk while being quiet and chain-smoking rather than being overly vocal could be Interpreted by some as a sign of passiveness. This is up for interpretation.
-Had to deal with several 'distractions' which made his job much harder (e.g. GHQ attack, Abbotabad incident, murder of Pakistani troops @ Salala, Gayari avalanche, Major floods in 2010 etc.)