Pakistan chooses moderate to take over as Army Chief

Thursday, 28 November 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: Pakistan on Wednesday named a career infantry officer credited with re-writing the infantry manual as its new all-powerful Army

Chief, a key position as the country fights a Taliban insurgency and increasing Islamist violence. In a message on Twitter, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (no relation) confirmed the appointment of Lieutenant-General Raheel Sharif at a time when tension continues with arch rival India over disputed Kashmir and as the United States seeks Pakistan’s help in bringing peace to neighbour Afghanistan. Sharif is seen as a moderate who views the militant threat inside Pakistan as just as important as the strategic tussle with India. “Sharif has played a big role in convincing the Army that the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and assorted militants inside Pakistan are as big a threat (as India),” a retired senior army officer who Sharif has served under told Reuters. The TTP is a group of Islamist militants in the country’s lawless tribal areas next to Afghanistan. Sharif’s appointment came as somewhat of a surprise as three other men had been seen as leading candidates.