Chief of Army Staff | General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

[fatman17]

Kayani's agenda for next term

Published: November 29, 2010

ISLAMABAD (Online) – Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in connection with the start of the second three-year tenure has announced his priorities, as he vowed to take the Pak Army at the top of professionalism, adding the Army would not intervene in politics.

According to the military sources, Kayani at a meeting with selective anchorpersons said his efforts were concentrated on the war on terror and restoration of peace in country. The Army would provide all possible support to the government for achieving the aim.

The sources said the Army chief openly expressed his viewpoint over internal and national security affairs. He discussed various a range of issues including situation of Afghanistan, reconciliation process with Taliban, relations with the US and the allied forces, drone attacks, relations with India and allegations on ISI.

He said Army’s top priority was to ensure the defence and protecting the integrity of Pakistan, adding, “The integrity of Pakistan is ensured by keeping the country’s interests in mind during the dialogues with any other country including United States.

According to the sources, Kayani would continue consultation with different walks of life while he is also expected to hold meetings with political leaders.

Meanwhile, General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani completed the first term yesterday (Sunday). He had been elevated to the slot by the former president Pervez Musharraf on November 27, 2007. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani announced the three-year extension in his tenure.

In a notification issued by Secretary Defense Athar Ali had notified that the COAS would start his duties for the next term right after completing previous tenure.

The prime minister on Kayani’s advice had also given extension to Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) DG Ahmed Shuja Pasha after completion of his term in June 2010.

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

best of luck to the COAS

indeed very tough tide(s) ahead....inevitably, tough decisions ahead as well

 

[air marshal]

65th Formation Commanders’ Conference held at GHQ

RAWALPINDI, Nov 29 (APP): The 65th Formation Commanders’ Conference chaired by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), commenced at General Headquarters today. The Conference is part of regular meetings and is being attended by Corps Commanders, Principal Staff Officers and Formation Commanders.

The participants were given comprehensive briefings on security environment and operational/training matters. The participants expressed satisfaction over operational preparedness of the Army.

In his address, COAS appreciated the professionalism with which security operations were being conducted in the terrorism affected areas and reiterated Pakistan Army’s commitment to concurrently participate in social uplift of these areas through Quick Impact Projects.

Alluding to unprecedented floods, he lauded efforts of the Field Formations in providing relief to the affected countrymen and assistance rendered in their rehabilitation.

 

[mshoaib61]

 

[air marshal]

The Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani addressing 65th Formation Commanders’ Conference held at General Headquarters on Monday. (29-11-2010) – Photo ISPR

 

[air marshal]

Gen Kayani using the parliament, alleges Wikileaks

Wikileaks released sensitive documents alleging that the Pakistan’s army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s opposition led to the conflict on the Kerry-Lugar Bill as it was going to result in greater civilian control on the military, report said.

According to the released documents, General Kayani has learnt from the mistakes made by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf. He is using the parliament and the government while staying in the background, the documents allege.

Gen Kayani using the parliament, alleges Wikileaks | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online

 

[air marshal]

Kayani behind conflict on Kerry-Lugar bill: Wikileaks

KARACHI: The whistle-blower website Wikileaks released sensitive documents alleging that the Pakistan’s army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s opposition led to the conflict on the Kerry-Lugar Bill as it was going to result in greater civilian control on the military, DawnNews reported.

A correspondence from the head of the French Interagency’s Pak-Afghan cell, Jasmine Zerinini, is also included in the new secret documents released by Wikileaks. The correspondence sheds light on the Pakistan Army’s policies in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

According to the released documents, General Kayani has learnt from the mistakes made by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf. He is using the parliament and the government while staying in the background, the documents allege. In this way, he is becoming an obstacle to any major change in the country’s policy pertaining to Fata.

Zerinini’s correspondence also stated that the West has lost the opportunity to crush the Afghan Taliban with Pakistan’s help.

The correspondence stated that with aid coming in from the Gulf States, the Haqqani network has grown too strong, that defeating it will not be easy for the Pakistani military.

Kayani behind conflict on Kerry-Lugar bill: Wikileaks | Latest news, Breaking news, Pakistan News, World news, business, sport and multimedia | DAWN.COM

 

[fatman17]

Gen. Kayani launches reforms in Pakistan Army

Wednesday December 01, 2010

ISLAMABAD: Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has introduced major reforms in the Pakistan Army despite many financial problems, with a major shift in the profile of who will be recruited more than others.

The Army has started decreasing the number of Punjabis and Pashtuns in fresh recruitments and adopted the policy of encouraging Baloch, Sindhis and religious minorities for making an ethnic balance.

The Pakistan Army has a total number of 480,000 troops. Currently, the percentage of Punjabis in Pakistan Army is 55.82 per cent, Pakhtuns 15.42 per cent, Baloch 2.34 per cent, Sindhis 15.09 per cent and people from Azad Kashmir/Gilgit-Baltistan are 8.48 per cent. The number of non-Muslims in the Pakistan Army is just 0.43 per cent.

The GHQ has set a new target of decreasing the number of Punjabis from 55.82 per cent to 54.50 per cent, number of Pashtuns will come down to 14.50 per cent from 15.42 per cent while the number of Baloch will increase from 2.34 per cent to 4 per cent, Sindhis will increase from 15.09 percent to 17 per cent and recruits from Azad Kashmi/Gilgit-Baltistan will increase to 9 per cent from 8.48 percent by the year 2011. The number of non-Muslims will also increase from 0.43 per cent to 1 per cent by the next year.

This year, 3,350 Baloch got commission in the Army and 5,000 more Baloch are ready to get fresh commissions. The GHQ has especially relaxed many terms and conditions only for Baloch so that they may easily join the Army. General Kayani will inaugurate a new cadet college in Sui early next year. The geographical location of this new cadet college will not only facilitate the Baloch but will also help the young Sindhis and Seraikis from south Punjab to join the Pakistan Army.

It has been learnt that there is a sharp rise in the number of youngsters who applied for getting a commission in the Pakistan Army in the last two years, which indicates that this institution improved its reputation in recent years. The Pakistan Army played an important role in the last two years in defeating the Taliban in Swat and helping victims of floods a few weeks back.

Currently, more than 147,000 troops are deployed on western borders, including tribal areas, 100,000 troops are guarding areas bordering India, 10,000 troops are busy in the UN duties outside Pakistan, and 16,000 troops are busy in training while only 62,600 troops are enjoying rest in cantonments.

According to some observers, the Army is already over stretched and it needs some expansion but defence sources claimed that the overall size of the Army would not be increased. Many people think that salaries of Army soldiers and officers were increased recently and therefore, the Army had once again become very attractive for the lower and middle class youth but in reality increase in salaries had created many problems for the GHQ.

Few people are aware that the defence budget is on the decrease. It was 19 per cent of the GDP in 2006-7 but it is 16 per cent of the GDP in the financial year of 2010-11. The Pakistan Army is getting 46.83 per cent of the total defence budget while the rest is going to Air Force, Navy and the Ministry of Defense. The total defence budget was 3.9 billion dollars in 2003-4 but this year only 2.7 billion dollars were allocated for defence spending.

Last year, the Army was spending 56 per cent on establishment and salaries, 17per cent on military operations, 44 per cent on sustenance and 10 per cent on maintenance. When the government increased the salaries without increasing the overall defence budget, the GHQ was forced to decrease its spending on sustenance and maintenance and this year the Army is spending 62 per cent on establishment and salaries.

This burden clearly created problems for the operational capabilities of the Army. This is one of the reasons that Pakistan Army is reluctant in starting a new operation in North Waziristan despite the fact that a big number of troops are already deployed in that area.

Sources claimed that the US and Nato forces had decreased their troops from areas of Paktia, Paktika and Kunar bordering North Waziristan and Bajaur. Pakistan Army commanders think if they start a new operation, the militants will easily get refuge in Afghanistan and there will be no use of spending money on a big operation.

An Indian national was arrested by the Pakistan Army on November 25 from the Janikhel area, which is very close to North Waziristan. He entered the NWA from Afghanistan very easily and there are apprehensions that militants active in the NWA are getting indirect help from the Indians based in eastern Afghanistan.

It is also interesting to note that Pakistan received more than 10 billion dollars from the US between 2002 and 2008 but the Pakistan Army received only 1.6 billion dollars. The government of Pervez Musharraf gave more money to civilian authorities than the Army.

Pakistan received 2.8 billion dollars after April 2008 from the US out of which the Army received just half the amount. According to defence experts, Pakistan is spending 7,818 dollars annually on one Army soldier while India is spending 27,171 dollars on each soldier. India has no major deployments on the borders of China and Bangladesh. The major chunk of the Indian Army is deployed along Pakistan borders, which is a matter of serious concern for the Pakistan Army commanders who have been forced by the US to focus more on the western borders rather than the eastern borders.

http://http://www.defence.pk/forums/land-forces/24313-chief-army-staff-coas-general-ashfaq-parvez-kayani-57.html#post1303855

 

[fatman17]

Department cables: CENTCOM GENERAL PETRAEUS MEETS WITH PAKISTAN COAS

guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 30 November 2010

history Saturday, 24 January 2009, 12:28

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ISLAMABAD 000155
SIPDIS
EO 12958 DECL: 01/23/2019
TAGS PREL, PGOV, PTER, MAR, MOPS, PK

SUBJECT: CENTCOM GENERAL PETRAEUS MEETS WITH PAKISTAN COAS
KAYANI
Classified By: Ambassador Anne W. Patterson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

Summary: (C) In a January 20 meeting with U.S. CENTCOM Commander General David Petraeus, Pakistan Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani reiterated his need for support and asked for changes in the Coalition Support Fund process to allow for more rapid reimbursement. Kayani repeated his concerns about Pakistan's IDP situation, which was undermining military operations, and described candidly the deterioration in Swat and his ongoing operations in Bajaur and Mohmand agencies. Kayani repeatedly expressed concern about the inability of the GOP to "hold and build," which General Petraeus described as the "always unsuccessful clear and leave" strategy. Kayani said he was going to exercise restraint with India, but would respond to an Indian attack. General Petraeus raised the likelihood of an alternative shipment route for NATO through central Asia, stressed the continued need for the route through Khyber, and expressed appreciation for increased cooperation on the border with ISAF forces. General Petraeus indicated that he thought increased measures to control population movements would have to be put in place and assured Kayani of his commitment to support Pakistan military development. Petraeus made clear that the Pakistan military needed to focus on the extremists on the western border, instead of the Indian threat. End summary.

1. (C) U.S. CENTCOM Commander General David Petraeus, accompanied by the Ambassador, J5 Major General Robert Allardice and POLAD Michael Gfoeller, met with Pakistan Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani on January 20. Kayani was accompanied by his Director General Military Operations, Major General Javed Iqbal, his Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Muhammad Mustafa Khan, and his Senior Aide, Brigadier Zubeir.

Musharraf's Situation

2. (C) In opening remarks regarding General Kayani,s likely move into the official COAS residence, Kayani observed that former President Musharraf,s situation seemed to be fine, even though he had been concerned earlier about Zardari,s failure to grant amnesty to Musharraf. Kayani observed that amnesty should have been granted immediately when Zardari assumed office, but it seemed as if the situation had settled down and he was no longer as concerned about President Musharraf,s legal situation. (Comment: Former President Musharraf is visiting his family in the U.S. and also undertaking speaking engagements. The construction of Musharraf's house near Islamabad is well advanced, so he may be able to move out of the COAS house in the next few weeks. End Comment)

Coalition Support Funds

3. (C) Kayani spoke candidly about the process of reimbursement of Coalition Support Funds (CSF). He said it was important to avoid the impression that the Pakistan military is "for hire." Still, the military had little incentive to provide the copious documentation, since only 40 percent of the money had been returned to military coffers in the past. Kayani said the money had mostly supported the federal government's budget. The typical breakdown had been about 60 percent to the federal government, 40 percent to the military, but President Zardari had told him recently that the entire amount would be reimbursed to the military. Kayani suggested that the CSF reimbursement amount "mirror" the system used for the UN's reimbursement of peacekeeping expenses or establish a base period and estimate the increase in military activity from that base. Petraeus indicated that he believed that the prospects for the "Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act" also known as the Biden-Lugar legislation, which would provide $1.5 billion for development activities, were positive, and there were plans underway to fund Pakistan,s military needs.

IDPs: Humanitarian and Strategic Issue

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4. (C) Kayani explained that his military budget had been flat lined, and therefore had dropped sharply in real terms; military spending now represented only 16 percent of the government's budget. He said the Pakistan military needed basic equipment like helmets, protective gear, and personnel carriers. Kayani was particularly concerned about the status of internally displaced persons (IDPs), who were displaced from their homes by fighting. This was not only a humanitarian problem, but also a strategic one. Kayani said he had no capacity to compensate civilians who had been injured or whose property had been destroyed. "If we don,t do that," Kayani said, "we will lose the battle for public opinion." Kayani said that the provincial government lacks the capacity to help the IDPs. He emphasized the importance of carrying forward the Bajaur operation. Kayani noted that at first he had thought the army "should stay out of politics," but it was increasingly obvious that the military would have to become involved in the IDP situation. Ambassador noted that the international community had also dropped the ball on providing relief for the IDPs and was now rushing to catch up.

Swat Valley

5. (C) Kayani was clear that the GOP had lost control of the Swat valley. He said the police had no ability to come in after the army to "hold" territory. He recounted that half of the 600 police officers, supposedly from the NWFP's elite police units, destined for Swat had deserted, largely because there was no command structure. Petraeus replied that the U.S. had confronted this same issue in Iraq, describing it as a "clear and leave" strategy, requiring the retaking of the same ground multiple times. Petraeus observed that the police are the most vulnerable, since they are exposed in communities. Petraeus noted that increased measures to control population movements would probably have to be put in place throughout the country, which would require considerable manpower.

Frontier Corps

6. (C) Petraeus said that the Frontier Corps (FC) was working well with Special Operations Forces, largely because of the leadership of the Frontier Corps Inspector General Major General Tariq Khan. Petraeus noted that the 11th Corps Chief of Staff Brigadier Amir was less cooperative with U.S. forces, and Kayani took note of that. Kayani said he had concentrated on improving the Frontier Corps and brought salaries and rations on a par with the regular army. He had also extended to the FC a benefit package for the families of those killed in the line of duty. Kayani added that FC successes in combat had understandably increased morale. Kayani mused about the "glorification of terrorism" (particularly the pictures of dead combatants in the press) and said Pakistan needed press laws similar to those in the UK.

7. (C) Kayani and Petraeus agreed that some of the civilian/military projects, which had been impeded at the 11th Corps, needed to be speeded up. Petraeus had given instructions that Special Operations Forces would be deployed regularly and constantly, and the U.S. "needed to move their soldiers in here, so they could engage productively with the FC."

Pakistan/India

8. (C) Petraeus said the most important threat to Pakistan was on the western border and internally. Terrorists were an existential threat to Pakistan. Kayani agreed. However, Kayani observed that he had postponed a missile test. The Indians, he said, in contrast, had conducted one just a few hours before. Kayani said he had no intention to resume missile testing as long as the current tensions persisted. He promised to be transparent with allies about his plans and had briefed us about his move of 6000 troops to the Indian border. Kayani said he was determined to exercise restraint in his actions with India. He recounted that he had taken no

ISLAMABAD 00000155 003 OF 003

action the evening that Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had supposedly called President Zardari and threatened to declare war. Kayani asked to be alerted if the U.S. had any warning of another attack - he understood that the Indians had been warned about the Mumbai attack. He mentioned that discussion of the consequences of a follow-on attack made both India and Pakistan hostage to extremists and increased the likelihood of an attack. "If there is any clue about another attack," he said, "please share it with us."

Next Steps

9. (C) Kayani returned to the issue of CSF at the conclusion of the conversation, saying that he hoped to have the May CSF submission soon, but we needed to develop a simpler way of handling CSF claims. Petraeus said he would look at options quickly. Kayani and Petraeus agreed that progress had been made on the Border Coordination centers and that additional communications capacity needed to be added. Petraeus pressed Kayani on moving forward with setting up the additional facilities inside of Pakistan.

10. (C) Petraeus said he was looking forward to welcoming Kayani to Tampa during his February 2009 counterpart visit. Kayani said he hoped, after consultation with the Prime Minister and the President, to bring a roadmap for consideration by U.S. officials.

11. (U) This cable has been cleared by CENTCOM. PATTERSON

 

[fatman17]

Kiyani makes cover of 'Newsweek' Pakistan dated Dec 6,2010

 

[air marshal]

Pakistani army chief considered plan to oust president

Pakistan's army chief, General Ashfaq Kayani, considered pushing President Asif Ali Zardari from office and forcing him into exile to resolve a political dispute, the US embassy cables reveal.

Kayani aired the idea during a frantic round of meetings with the US ambassador Anne Patterson in March 2009 as opposition leader Nawaz Sharif rallied thousands of supporters in a street movement that threatened to topple the government.

Kayani said that while he disliked Zardari, he distrusted Sharif even more, and appeared to be angling for a solution that would prevent the opposition leader from coming to power.

The cable illustrates the strong behind-the-scenes hand of Pakistan's military in civilian politics only six months after the last military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, resigned.

It also highlights the central role of western diplomats in Pakistani power games – as the Americans spoke with Kayani, British diplomats forged their own plan to broker a political deal between warring factions.

The crisis was sparked by Zardari's attempt to bar Sharif from running for parliament and his refusal to reinstate the deposed chief justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry.

As a powerful protest movement of opposition supporters and lawyers grew in Sharif's stronghold of Lahore, western diplomats scrambled to defuse the situation with Kayani's help.

During his fourth meeting with Patterson in less than a week, the taciturn army chief "hinted that he might, however reluctantly, have to persuade President Zardari to resign if the situation sharply deteriorates".

He said Zardari could be replaced by Asfandyar Wali Khan, leader of the Pashtun nationalist Awami National party, but the prime minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani, would remain in place.

As such, this "would not be a formal coup", Patterson noted, but would leave in place a government led by Zardari's PPP party.

But Kayani made it clear he hoped the US could resolve the crisis through negotiation because he did not want Sharif in power. "Regardless of how much he disliked Zardari he distrusted Sharif even more," it said.

Kayani told Patterson that his top generals, known as the Corps Commanders, had expressed disquiet about Zardari because he was thought to be corrupt and had neglected Pakistan's "economic and security challenges", he said.

The military's spymaster, ISI chief General Shuja Pasha, made similar complaints about Zardari during a flight to America for a review of the strategic relationship between the two allies, the ambassador reported. "We have multiple sources demonstrating army complaints about Zardari," she said.

The preference for Gilani fuels long-standing speculation that the army leadership views the prime minister as a more palatable, or pliable, figure.

Patterson speculated that the army chief did not air his grievances directly with Zardari because he wanted to avoid any confrontation that might prompt Zardari to try to oust him – a "disastrous" possibility.

The British ambassador, Robert Brinkley, was working his own lines. He told the Americans he had received permission from London to "approach the various sides [and] discern their bottom lines". But the UK had not decided whether it would take on the role of mediator.

In the end Zardari was forced into a humiliating climbdown on 16 March when, under massive pressure, he dropped the ban on Sharif and reinstated Chaudhry. Reports at the time speculated that Kayani had played a central role in forcing Zardari to change course.

The drama prompted an American re-evaluation of the critical relationship between the president and army chief. Only a month earlier, the embassy reported that they had developed a "respectful if not entirely trusting working relationship".

"Kayani has gone out of his way to publicly defer to Zardari because he needs political support to wage successful military operations. After eight years of military rule under Musharraf, Zardari is re-shaping civilian-military relations in the shadow of Pakistan's history of repeated military coups."Sharif has much in common with the army leadership – his Punjabi roots, conservative politics and a history of supporting military rule. But he earned the army's wrath in 1999 with his bungled attempt to fire the then army chief Pervez Musharraf – a mistake that ultimately forced Sharif into exile.

WikiLeaks cables: Pakistani army chief considered plan to oust president | World news | The Guardian

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

a step in the right direction in my humble view......basically, Pakistan is a unique country with much ethnical diversity. Important for all ethnic groups to be included in civilian and military spheres.

MOST important however is character, credentials, capability, confidence and motivation to get the job done properly........Soldiery is not inherited genetically or hereditarily. That will be kept in mind, even if a little 'push' takes place for minority/non-Muslims to be recruited for eventual soldier/officer duties

 

[air marshal]

Army Chief visits Mangla to witness various training activities

RAWALPINDI, Dec 1 (APP): Chief of the Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani visited Mangla today to witness various training activities.

He visited a Light Commando Battalion undergoing training. While informally interacting with the troops, he appreciated their morale and professionalism.

COAS also witnessed Low Intensity Conflict training being carried out by Young Officers of various units/formations.

He emphasized the need to comprehend dynamics of Low Intensity Conflict and develop skills at individual/unit level accordingly.

COAS also met Lance Naik MianYousaf Jamil, World Record holder for planting most number of trees in a single day. He lauded the spirit behind the effort of Lance Naik Yousaf to promote tree plantation.

Earlier, COAS was received by Corps Commander, Lieutenant General Khalid Nawaz Khan.

 

[air marshal]

YouTube - Pakistan Army training activities, COAS witnessed Low Intensity Conflict training

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

AoA Salman bhai,

A quick, (hopefully) constructive personal opinion, in the form of a question, from an ardent subcriber to your Youtube channel:


would these non-Air Force related videos be better served with a different ''banner'' in the beginning of the video?