The “word” on the Hill is that the Americans feel comfortable working with “Kayani-Pasha-Haqqani” trio and General Kayani will stay for another year.
A well placed CENTCOM source Washinton told us today that despite some posturing by democratically elected government of Pakistan, country’s Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani will get an extension to his tenure.
Fourteenth chief of the Pakistan Army, General Kayani (55) was promoted to the rank of General in October 2007, with the title of the Vice Chief of Army Staff. Very next month (November 2007), General Kayani moved-up as the Army Chief after General Pervez Musharraf retired.
Our CENTCOM source says the current Pakistani General has developed strong working relation with his American counterparts and it will be “in the best interest of the operation not to change leadership mid-stream.”
On his part, General Kayani has assured Obama administration that his army will play in their “own sandbox” and not disrupt the civilian setup, our source said.
Earlier today in Pakistan, Defense Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar had said that the PPP-led Government was not giving any extension to Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. Defense Minister, however, had put a caveat to his statement: “he (Gen. Kayani) has not asked for the extension of his tenure.”
In March when a high level Pakistani delegation came to Washington for high-level talks, General Kayani was the “top dog,” who negotiated most aspects of the strategic dialogue.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US, Hussain Haqqani had opened a reception at the embassy declaring that General Kayani: “embodies the conviction of the Pakistani armed forces, not just to defend the frontiers of Pakistan but also to ensure the continuity of constitutional democratic rule in accordance with the aspirations of our people of Pakistan.”
Ambassador Haqqani, whose diplomatic tenure was set to expire this month has also received one year extension.
“Haqqani and Kayani are both key stakeholders and extremely valuable contacts for the American government,” our source said.
General Kayani had meeting U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army General David Petraeus, head of the U.S. Central Command, and other senior U.S. military officials during his visit to Washington.
“He (Kayani) had assured American leadership that his army does not plan to remove the elected government from power,” our source said.
Civilian rule returned to Pakistan in 2008 after General Pervez Musharraf resigned, but the army has not given up its dominance of key security issues.
ISI Chief Lt. General Pasha has also recieved extension to his tenure recently. “Pasha has worked dilligently to restore confidence of American intelligence community,” our source said.
“With Kayani as head of army, Pasha leading ISI and Hussain Haqqani in Washington, we feel comfortable,” our source who said.
Ibrahim Sajid Malick is a Pakistani-American writer, technologist, and social entrepreneur. He has been writing on Pakistani society and politics since 1986. He has held several media, communications, and technology positions for organizations large and small. Mr. Malick graduated from New School for Social Research with a master’s degree in anthropology. He holds several technology and management certifications. He works for a leading technology firm and blogs at www.ibrahimsajidmalick.com
Even though the Pakistani army chief Kayani and ISI chief Pasha appear willing to go after militant groups, they continue some form of alliance with groups they want to use as a strategic hedge against India and Afghanistan.
In public they deny it. Recently ISI Chief Ahmad Shuja Pasha said: “The ISI is a professional agency and does not have links (Daily Times) with any militant outfit including the Taliban.”
U.S. officials should demand Pakistan to crackdown on the leadership of the Afghan Taliban believed based in Quetta and two major factions of the Afghan insurgency led by veteran Afghan warlords, Jalaluddin Haqqani and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. These groups are actively engaged in supplying fighters in Afghanistan. These groups do not engage in direct attacks against the Pakistani state in lieu of political cover inside Pakistan.
There is some shift in Pakistan’s strategy of supporting groups against India and to project influence in Afghanistan. There is more debate and more ambivalence. Overall, the Pakistani establishment is moving in the right direction but it will take a very long time to undo the pattern that has been established so far.
When I read “Kayani-Pasha-Haqqani” in your article I thought you meant Jalaluddin Haqqani and that is an alliance every one knows about. But “Kayani-Pasha- Hussain Haqqani” is new
while the PPP regime is giving extensions left right and center it is essential that the top positions of the army are not considered tobe blocked for promotion purposes…if kayani and pasha are so important personally they can be moved into slots on the civilian side either created for them or form a retired national security apparatus…either one of them can be appointed ambassador to the USA or a coordinator for national security…the PPP regime seems frightened to appoint another general who might not be so cooperative both at teh ISI and COAS positions…others say that the general is interested in being promoted as field marshal since he has experience of handling politicos as well as the taleban, teh iSI, afghans and some say even teh idians and of course our numerous Lt genrals…curiously it seems that Gilani and zardari would prefer the easy going general toi saty on while teh defence minister probably has been studying other up coming Lt Generals for teh position…in any case a new general as army chief could really bring some real change to the musharaf created status quo and who might be more friendly to the people than kiani and pasha are…
[...] days after high level US administration delegation visited Islamabad. In an exclusive report on May 17th, 2010, we published a report confirming that General Kayani will get an extension because American [...]
[...] days after high level US administration delegation visited Islamabad. In an exclusive report on May 17th, 2010, we published a report confirming that General Kayani will get an extension because American [...]