Pakistan - Kayani shakes up army command (New ISI director is Lt-Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha)

Dawn.com (Islamabad) ^ | September 30, 2008 | Iftikhar A. Khan

[HAL9000]

Excerpt -

ISLAMABAD, Sept 29: In a major reshuffle in the army’s top command, Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Monday brought in a new head of the all-powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), changed four of the nine corps commanders and appointed a new chief of general staff, besides giving key postings to a few others.

The shake-up is the most wide-ranging since Gen Kayani took over as the COAS and perhaps even more significant since the former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf stepped down as the country’s controversial president.

The move came within hours of the promotion of seven major generals to the rank of three-star lieutenant generals, with a number of them becoming the direct beneficiary of the reshuffle.

Perhaps the most surprising of all such changes is the appointment of Lt-Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha as the new Director-General of ISI. He has replaced Lt-Gen Nadeem Taj, who has been appointed Commander of 30 Corps in Gujranwala. A highly professional soldier in his own right, Lt-Gen Pasha has, for the past over two years, been overseeing the ongoing security operation in the tribal areas and parts of the NWFP.

In his capacity as the director-general military operations (DGMO) he was directly responsible for the launching and execution of all major security strikes in Fata and Swat, the latest being the major onslaught against religious extremists in the Bajaur tribal agency.

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[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Probably no coincidence that that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen came by for a talk last week. He must have read them the riot act.

[SueRae]

ping for followup.

I don’t pretend to know about all things Pakistan but the ISI has been a mess. However, without knowing the players, I can’t tell if this is an improvement...or not.

[AnwerKamal]

.The people who do not know General Kiani and Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha those can say any word but who know them, those are very happy.The both generals are totally professional and there is no record of there political involment any time in their lives.The both are serious type personalities and famous for their tight lips.Now the command of Pakistan army is in the best hands after decades.The both generals have best records and known for their gentle behaviour and good discipline.President Zardari should be satisfy now.Now in near future there is no threat to new civil government. Now it is the best time for the politicians to do something for the nation.

[SueRae]

Thank you for sharing those thoughts. I know so little about the country except to see the turmoil that has occurred there for so many years. I am hopeful that peace will come for the good people of Pakistan.