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ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's General Pervez Musharraf appointed a new military spy chief and made several other promotions on Friday, days after announcing his plan to step down as head of the army if re-elected president next month. Army appointments are closely watched at any time in Pakistan, as generals have ruled for more than half of the 60 years since the country was founded.
military statement said Musharraf appointed Nadeem Taj as director-general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and promoted him from major-general to lieutenant-general.
Taj was formerly the head of Military Intelligence and also served as Musharraf's military secretary at the time of the coup.
The move will harden expectations the replaced ISI chief, Lieutenant-General Ashfaq Pervez Kiani, will get one of the top jobs -- either taking over from Musharraf as chief of army staff, or becoming his vice chief.
The other front-runner for one of the top slots is Lieutenant-General Tariq Majeed, who has been replaced as Tenth Corps Commander based in Rawalpindi.
Majeed was stationed in Lahore during the 1999 coup, and ordered troops to take over the family estates of Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister Musharraf ousted.
Both officers are well regarded by U.S. counterparts, Western diplomats say.
Pakistan is one of the most important non-NATO allies for the United States, and its support is regarded as crucial for the success of Western military intervention in Afghanistan, and the hunt for Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda in the tribal border lands.
MORALE ISSUE
The changes in command come at a time when the army's prestige has suffered several blows fighting militants in tribal areas like Waziristan, where 240 soldiers are being held captive.
In the past week, militants have slaughtered 32 members of elite commando units in a suicide attack and a raid.
Pakistan has lost over 1,000 troops battling the Taliban and al Qaeda, and the conflict has meant ordering the army to fight its own people, while suicide attacks against soldiers and police have multiplied since the storming of the Red Mosque.
Boosting the army's morale will be a priority, a Western military official said.
military statement said Musharraf appointed Nadeem Taj as director-general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and promoted him from major-general to lieutenant-general.
Taj was formerly the head of Military Intelligence and also served as Musharraf's military secretary at the time of the coup.
The move will harden expectations the replaced ISI chief, Lieutenant-General Ashfaq Pervez Kiani, will get one of the top jobs -- either taking over from Musharraf as chief of army staff, or becoming his vice chief.
The other front-runner for one of the top slots is Lieutenant-General Tariq Majeed, who has been replaced as Tenth Corps Commander based in Rawalpindi.
Majeed was stationed in Lahore during the 1999 coup, and ordered troops to take over the family estates of Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister Musharraf ousted.
Both officers are well regarded by U.S. counterparts, Western diplomats say.
Pakistan is one of the most important non-NATO allies for the United States, and its support is regarded as crucial for the success of Western military intervention in Afghanistan, and the hunt for Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda in the tribal border lands.
MORALE ISSUE
The changes in command come at a time when the army's prestige has suffered several blows fighting militants in tribal areas like Waziristan, where 240 soldiers are being held captive.
In the past week, militants have slaughtered 32 members of elite commando units in a suicide attack and a raid.
Pakistan has lost over 1,000 troops battling the Taliban and al Qaeda, and the conflict has meant ordering the army to fight its own people, while suicide attacks against soldiers and police have multiplied since the storming of the Red Mosque.
Boosting the army's morale will be a priority, a Western military official said.
