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Pakistan Names New Army Chief Pakistan Names New Army Chief
(about 1 hour later)
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — In a surprise move, Lt. Gen. Raheel Sharif was appointed the chief of the Pakistani Army on Wednesday, ending months of speculation about who would succeed Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who will retire on Friday. ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — In a surprise move, Lt. Gen. Raheel Sharif was appointed chief of the Pakistani Army on Wednesday, ending months of speculation about who would succeed Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who will retire on Friday.
General Sharif was the third most senior in terms of service of the three top officers who were the main contenders for what is considered the most powerful military position in the country. The second most senior of the contenders, Lt. Gen. Rashad Mahmood, was named chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, according to a statement from the office of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is not directly related to General Sharif. Lt. Gen. Haroon Aslam, the most senior, was bypassed. Of the three main contenders for the post — the most powerful military position in the country — General Sharif was the least senior in terms of service. The second most senior of the candidates, Lt. Gen. Rashad Mahmood, was appointed chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, according to a statement from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s office. Lt. Gen. Haroon Aslam, the most senior candidate, was bypassed.
Both of the new appointees will be promoted to become four-star generals. According to Pakistan’s constitution, the prime minister appoints the head of the military services. Choosing the army chief had been considered one of the most important and delicate decisions facing Mr. Sharif. The military has ruled Pakistan for most of the country’s history; during Mr. Sharif’s previous tenure, his handpicked army chief, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, toppled the government in 1999.
According to the country’s constitution, the prime minister makes the appointments of the service chiefs. Choosing the army chief had been considered one of the most important and delicate decisions facing Mr. Sharif. The military has ruled Pakistan for most of the country’s history. During Mr. Sharif’s previous tenure, his handpicked army chief, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, toppled the government in 1999.
Before his appointment, General Sharif served as the Pakistani Army’s inspector general of evaluation and training. He is the brother of a decorated war hero, Shabbir Sharif, who was killed in the 1971 war with India.Before his appointment, General Sharif served as the Pakistani Army’s inspector general of evaluation and training. He is the brother of a decorated war hero, Shabbir Sharif, who was killed in the 1971 war with India.
Pakistani analysts said General Sharif’s family background and professional record were the main reasons for his selection. His family is considered to have enjoyed good ties with the prime minister’s family because both are from the eastern city of Lahore and are of Kashmiri origins. Pakistani analysts said General Sharif’s family background and professional record were the main reasons for his selection. His family has had close ties with the prime minister’s family, though they are not directly related, because both are from the eastern city of Lahore and have Kashmiri origins.
“He comes from a family that has given sacrifices and has been more interested in profession and less in politics,” said Talat Masood, a retired lieutenant general and a respected defense and political analyst.“He comes from a family that has given sacrifices and has been more interested in profession and less in politics,” said Talat Masood, a retired lieutenant general and a respected defense and political analyst.
“Sharif is soldierly and professionally very sound. And, because of his background, the prime minister seemed to have greater confidence in him,” Mr. Masood said. “Sharif is soldierly and professionally very sound,” Mr. Masood said. “And, because of his background, the prime minister seemed to have greater confidence in him.”
General Sharif’s appointment caused some surprise as the prime minister bypassed two more senior generals. General Sharif’s appointment caused some surprise, because the prime minister bypassed two more senior generals. (The two men will be promoted to four-star generals.)
The new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Mahmood, was rumored to be the preferred choice of General Kayani.The new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Mahmood, was rumored to be the preferred choice of General Kayani.
General Sharif has a vastly different personality to the other two contenders, Mr. Masood said. “Kayani was far more discreet and kept things to himself. He was certainly not an extrovert.”General Sharif has a vastly different personality to the other two contenders, Mr. Masood said. “Kayani was far more discreet and kept things to himself. He was certainly not an extrovert.”
General Kayani was credited with keeping the military out of politics but got mixed reviews of his performance against the Taliban insurgency. He led a successful military operation against the Taliban in the Swat Valley of northwestern Pakistan and less decisive campaigns in South Waziristan and other parts of the tribal belt.General Kayani was credited with keeping the military out of politics but got mixed reviews of his performance against the Taliban insurgency. He led a successful military operation against the Taliban in the Swat Valley of northwestern Pakistan and less decisive campaigns in South Waziristan and other parts of the tribal belt.
But during his tenure there was also an alarming surge in Taliban violence across the rest of the country, including a 2009 assault on the military’s heavily fortified general headquarters in Rawalpindi that embarrassed the senior leadership.But during his tenure there was also an alarming surge in Taliban violence across the rest of the country, including a 2009 assault on the military’s heavily fortified general headquarters in Rawalpindi that embarrassed the senior leadership.
General Sharif will have to face the challenge of the Taliban insurgency. His relationship with Washington will also be crucial as United States-led forces begin withdrawing from neighboring Afghanistan in 2014.General Sharif will have to face the challenge of the Taliban insurgency. His relationship with Washington will also be crucial as United States-led forces begin withdrawing from neighboring Afghanistan in 2014.