Army will stay out of politics, says Kayani
February 28, 2009
WASHINGTON (Agencies) - Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who is currently on a US visit, pledged to keep his countrys armed forces out of politics, asserting that the Army would not intervene in a crisis.
According to the New York Times, Gen Kayani gave this assurance during his meetings with Congress leaders as he faced questions whether the military would step in if the political situation in Pakistan deteriorated.
The daily, quoting a Pakistani official, reports that Gen Kayani, who unlike his predecessor Pervez Musharraf, has pledged to keep the military out of politics, said the Army would not intervene. The Congressional leaders with whom he had discussions included House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Horward L Berman, Senate Armed Forces Committee Chief Carl M Levin and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry.
Gen Kayani had a busy schedule in Washington, during which he met Defence Secretary Robert Gates to exchange views on matters of mutual interests and regional situation and called on Lieutenant General Mapples, Director Defence Intelligence Agency. Gen Kayani visited Pentagon and held a detailed meeting with Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Admiral Michael Mullen on regional strategic matters.
Among those whom Gen Kayani met included National Security Advisor General James L Jones and Special Representative to Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke, Commander of US Central Command General David Petraeus.
On Thursday, the COAS visited Command and General Staff College at Fort Leaven Worth, Kansas, where he was received by Lieutenant General William B Caldwell, IV Commandant US Army Command and General Staff College. Later at an International Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, a photograph of Gen Kayani was placed in US Army International Hall of Fame. Kayani is the fourth Pakistani graduate of US Army Command and General Staff College who has been conferred upon this honour on obtaining four-star rank. At the end of the ceremony, the National Anthem of Pakistan was also played.
