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Army Chief in Pakistan Wins Honor From U.S.
By ERIC SCHMITT
Published: April 2, 2008
WASHINGTON Since Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani took command of Pakistans Army last November, a parade of top American officers and spymasters has trooped to Islamabad to urge him to wage an aggressive campaign against Al Qaeda and other militants in the countrys restive tribal areas.
The American officials have come away gushing about the Pakistani generals military prowess and his commitment to disentangle the army from domestic politics. General Kayanis predecessor, Pervez Musharraf, resigned last year to become a civilian president.
So perhaps it was just a coincidence when a letter from the United States Embassy in Islamabad arrived in General Kayanis mailbox last week, congratulating him on being selected for the United States Army Command and General Staff Colleges International Hall of Fame.
The hall honors those officers of United States allies militaries who have attained the highest command positions in their national service component or within their nations armed forces, Maj. Gen. James R. Helmly, the embassys defense representative, wrote in a letter to General Kayani on March 20.
Asked whether General Kayanis selection was an attempt to curry favor with the officer, one American military official said Tuesday, Absolutely not.
General Kayani is a 1988 graduate of the Army college, which is at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and provides advanced training to the Armys most promising officers and to some foreign officers.
Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, the commander of the Armys Combined Arms Center, which includes the college, said that General Kayani was the fourth Pakistani officer named to the hall, and met the requirements that he was a graduate and the chief of his service. The Army has admitted 227 officers from more than 60 countries since the hall was established in 1973. (Mr. Musharraf, who did not attend the college, is not among them.)
By ERIC SCHMITT
Published: April 2, 2008
WASHINGTON Since Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani took command of Pakistans Army last November, a parade of top American officers and spymasters has trooped to Islamabad to urge him to wage an aggressive campaign against Al Qaeda and other militants in the countrys restive tribal areas.
The American officials have come away gushing about the Pakistani generals military prowess and his commitment to disentangle the army from domestic politics. General Kayanis predecessor, Pervez Musharraf, resigned last year to become a civilian president.
So perhaps it was just a coincidence when a letter from the United States Embassy in Islamabad arrived in General Kayanis mailbox last week, congratulating him on being selected for the United States Army Command and General Staff Colleges International Hall of Fame.
The hall honors those officers of United States allies militaries who have attained the highest command positions in their national service component or within their nations armed forces, Maj. Gen. James R. Helmly, the embassys defense representative, wrote in a letter to General Kayani on March 20.
Asked whether General Kayanis selection was an attempt to curry favor with the officer, one American military official said Tuesday, Absolutely not.
General Kayani is a 1988 graduate of the Army college, which is at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and provides advanced training to the Armys most promising officers and to some foreign officers.
Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, the commander of the Armys Combined Arms Center, which includes the college, said that General Kayani was the fourth Pakistani officer named to the hall, and met the requirements that he was a graduate and the chief of his service. The Army has admitted 227 officers from more than 60 countries since the hall was established in 1973. (Mr. Musharraf, who did not attend the college, is not among them.)
