ISLAMABAD: The reported tensions between the civil and military leadership and a movement launched by opposition leader Imran Khan to oust Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif could play a role in the choice of the next Pakistani army chief, with the race believed to have narrowed down to four generals.
The current chief, Gen Raheel Sharif, announced in January that he didn’t “believe in extension” and would retire on the due date in November. With just four weeks to go for his retirement, reports have suggested that Gen Sharif could be given a one-year extension or elevated to the rank of field marshal because of a recent spike in tensions with India.
PM Sharif, however, is believed to be opposed to any extension. Analysts said the movement started by Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan against the premier could put pressure on the civilian leadership to choose the next army chief based on recommendations provided by the military high command.
The four generals whose names are doing the rounds for the most powerful position in Pakistan are Lt Gen Javed Iqbal Ramday, commander of Bahawalpur based XXXI Corps, Lt Gen Zubair Hayat, Chief of General Staff, Lt Gen Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmad, commander of the Multan-based II Corps, and Lt Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, who heads the army’s training and evaluation wing.
Of them, the favourite is Ram day, whole dan operation in 2009 against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan in the Swat Valley after the militants set up a parallel administration in the area. He is believed to be the ruling PML-N party’s preferred choice, say analysts.
{{/usCountry}}Of them, the favourite is Ram day, whole dan operation in 2009 against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan in the Swat Valley after the militants set up a parallel administration in the area. He is believed to be the ruling PML-N party’s preferred choice, say analysts.
{{/usCountry}}Another favourite is Hayat, who oversees intelligence and operational affairs at the army’s General Headquarters. He is the senior-most of the generals and earlier served as director general of the Strategic Plans Division, which is responsible for managing Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.
Ahmad has extensive experience with military operations and has also served as the Director General of Military Operations, a position that has always been seen as a plus point for the army chief ’s job.
Bajwa, who earlier commanded the X Corps that is responsible for the area along the LoC, is considered the dark horse in the race.
Analysts have said that PM Sharif, prefers to have a non-Punjabi in the post as it gives him an edge. This was the philosophy that led to Sharif nominating Pervez Musharraf in 1998.
TCA Raghavan, who served as the Indian envoy in Islamabad, said, “PM Sharif has an important say in it (appointment of army chief), to the extent that he selects the man for the post from the list given to him. Personality matters. Had there been no Pervez Musharraf, there wouldn’t have been a Kargil.”