Posted on 11/27/2007 10:55:52 PM PST by HAL9000
RAWALPINDI: Pervez Musharraf stepped down Wednesday from the Army Chief post handing over the Army command to Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, who took charge as 14th Chief of Pakistan Army.Musharraf addressing the change of command ceremony in this garrison town, said he was leaving the Army in a best state. He said he knows Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani for last 20 years who is a best soldier and the Army officer.
“After passing 46 years in the Army I am saying farewell to the institution,” President Musharraf said. “I am sad to leave the Army, which is like a family to me,” he further said.
He thanked Gen. Ashfaq Kayani and other officers and jawans of the armed forces for their assistance and cooperation.
Musharraf said he was proud of Pakistan Army adding he is fortunate to command the best military of the world.
He said it is the military, which come to the fore to face any internal or external threat. It is the military that always remains prepared to offer sacrifices in natural calamities, he further said.
Musharraf said Pakistan could not survive without the military. He said some unscrupulous elements raise fingers at the army but they do not understand the role of military in development and solidarity of Pakistan.
Musharraf said that the Army is fighting against terrorists in NWFP, FATA and Balochistan and the situation now improving in these areas.
Been looking for info about Kayani..... there’s not that much out there yet. He’s described as quiet, non-political, somewhat “pro-western” (whatever that means in the context of Pakistan). He’s been head of the ISI the past 3 years and apparently Musharraf was pleased with how Kayani handled investigations of the assassination attempts, etc. Kayani is Punjabi, he’s not Pashtun, which may both help and hurt him in different ways (he won’t have influence with Pashtun tribes, maybe, but he also may not be seen as aligned with particular power groups).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashfaq_Parvez_Kayani
Thanks for that info. We need to know about this guy.
Don’t really matter which one of these guys is “in charge” as long as the USA knows who has “the football”: keep your eye on the ball, please.
The Pakistani army high command has never acted without consensus,so he won’t be acting alone.It’s not a surprise that Kayani is a Punjabi,because they dominate the senior officer corps.There have been 2 Pashtun General- presidents before-Ayub & Yahya.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.