Nawaz makes an offer Kayani may find hard to resist

By
PakistanToday
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7
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Although General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani may have called it a day, it seems Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is in no mood to let go off his former army chief easily as he has reportedly offered an advisory role to the retired general which the latter is said to be considering “quite seriously”, informed sources told Pakistan Today on Saturday.

Gen Kayani cast himself in the role of an army chief who resisted the temptation to stretch himself further than the bounds of reason would allow, something which has earned him Prime Minister Sharif’s admiration, said the sources.

Even though Gen Kayani’s brother Brig (r) Amjad Kayani has said that the former army chief would not take up any job after his retirement, the sources said it was most likely that the prime minister would be able to bring him onboard his team of advisers.

Gen Kayani, retired on November 29, after six years as Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff—making him the longest-serving army chief never to take over the country.

During his long tenure, the general carved out a new, sleeker role for the army chief, retreating from active involvement in politics even as the army brass kept their control of foreign policy, national security, and certain sectors of the economy—poking the elected civilians, when necessary, from behind a thin veil of non-interference.

Kayani jealously guarded the army’s traditional interests, while almost sundering the country’s longstanding alliance with the United States. His appointment in an advisory capacity would mean continuity in Pakistan’s approach ahead of a pullout of most foreign troops from Afghanistan at the end of 2014.

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7 COMMENTS

  2. I think kayani would do well to accept.he would be useful.he could walk out if he is not taken seriously.He played a fine role in transition to democracy and strengthening it against many odds.He seems to have a long view of things and the country,under civilian rule,could make use of him for some more years.I don't feel an ambassadorship suit's his size.

  4. I am envisaging a recently retired army chief as an Advisor to the Prime Minister on Defence, the post which is actually above and in-charge of all the army and security agencies, including the chief of army staff (constitutionally).
    I am thinking a security measure being taken by Sharif to save him from all sorts risks of a military coup.
    I don't see that happening though.

  5. then you have 2 army chiefs; one junior and one most senior – except junior knows the most senior never recommended him to become the chief. PM seems to be playing a wiser game ths time. Good for the nation!

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