Pakistan Chief of Army Staff in list of "50 People Who Matter Today": Sify

Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Ashfaq Kayani has been ranked higher than Pope Benedict XVI and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown in a list published by a British political magazine, which highlights 50 individuals who have been instrumental in having an impact in today's scenario around the world.
New Statesman's list of "50 People Who Matter Today", has the Obamas as the most influential people in the world, while Kayani has been ranked at 24th position, way ahead of the Pope or Brown, The Daily Times reports.

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Time's World's Most Influential Leaders: Ashfaq Kayani

Aryn Baker

Until his promotion to army chief last fall, Ashfaq Kayani was the ultimate gray man, chosen, it seemed, for his lack of political ambition and his unwavering loyalty to his boss, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. But Kayani, 56, quickly showed that his loyalty lay with the nation he had served for nearly four decades, not with the man who had elevated him to the most powerful position in the country. On taking office, Kayani ordered the withdrawal of all military officers from lucrative posts in the civilian bureaucracy. As Pakistan went to the polls in February, Kayani kept the army out of sight, a first in a nation long accustomed to election results tinged by a khaki shadow. The message was clear: his army would stick to the barracks and the battlefields, not the ballot boxes.

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General Ashfaq Kiyani: the man who calls the shots in Pakistan: Times Online

Bronwen Maddox: Analysis

Is General Ashfaq Kiyani the most dangerous man in Pakistan? The most indecisive? Both?

The head of the Pakistan Army has done an about-turn from his quiet but shocking position that the Government’s appeasement of the Taleban in the Swat Valley was a necessary step — one that might even be the model for other confrontations inside Pakistan. His view, it has emerged in the year and a half since his appointment, is that the army was built to fight India, not Pakistanis. The Taleban, he seemed to suggest, was merely an uncomfortable phenomenon, which raised interesting, almost academic questions about how much to respect local culture. (A lot, seemed to be his answer, even if “local culture” meant the rules imposed by the Taleban).

Now, in public, Kiyani, right, has changed, apparently stung by Hillary Clinton’s denunciation of the lack of effort against the Taleban.

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Pakistan’s ‘quiet man’: Pakistan Observer

Shumaila Raja

Who is General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani? He is being discussed everywhere, in the media, public meetings and drawing room sittings. Analysts and TV anchors are discussing his personality at national and international level. Gen Kayani enjoys the repute of a gentleman who thinks like a scholar and acts like a soldier. He is held in high esteems in Euro-American circles, Peoples Republic of China and the Middle Eastern armies. His photograph had been added to the US Army International Hall of Fame – the fourth Pakistan Army General to have attained this honour.

The 2008 Time’s 100, while listing General Kayani the 20th amongst hundred most influential leaders and revolutionaries in the world, wrote: “…Kayani showed that his loyalty lay with the nation, soldiers, friends, diplomats and politicians all extol his reasoned thinking and tempered judgment.” BBC News in a report on November 27, 2007 titled “The Rise of Pakistan’s Quiet Man” wrote: “…[Gen. Kayani] noted for his patience, diligence, intelligence and sheer determination…has ability to keep a low profile when necessary while also being able to take decisive action when it’s needed... has a “can-do” image as a man who gets things done”. A New York Times report noted that “[Gen. Kayani] received high praise from the US for his military prowess and his commitment to disentangle the army from domestic politics.”

When he took over the image of the armed forces was at its lowest ever level. The forces were being targeted by the militants and assailed by the general public, thanks to the prolonged rule of Gen. Musharraf who badly failed in curbing the war against terror and maintain law and order situation, besides controlling the commodity item and household goods’ prices. The challenges for Gen. Kayani were enormous – both at home and external fronts. But today we see Pakistan’s Armed Forces stand absolved. Gen. Kayani stood guard to the tests of time, to the challenge emanated from the recent political crises pre and post-Long March.

The armed forces contribution has been exemplary during the last 62 years. They have set high standards of command, bravery, dedication, commitment, discipline – and above all professionalism which has acquired this exalted place for the army. He attaches great importance to make the army one of the best in the world and equip its officers and men with necessary wherewithal required by a modern soldier. That’s why he declared the year 2008 as “the Year of the Soldier”, and the year 2009 as “the Year of Training”. There is no doubt that our soldier’s contribution in the ongoing war against terror is enormous and unprecedented. He has set high standards of bravery, gallantry and valor. The General made a point to visit them in operational areas and award them for their gallantry deeds. In this ongoing year, he is especially concentrating on the soldier’s training and professionalism.

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Army chief tries to defuse Pakistan crisis: FT

By Farhan Bokhari in Islamabad

General Ashfaq Kiyani, Pakistan’s army chief, on Friday stepped up his efforts to avert a deepening political crisis as opposition parties and anti-government lawyers planned mass protests next week.

Amid a government crackdown on protesters, Gen Kiyani met Asif Ali Zardari, the president, and Yusuf Raza Gilani, the prime minister, yesterday to discuss steps to restore stability and maintain the country’s parliamentary democracy. The general’s growing personal involvement has raised concerns that the military is poised to return to a more political role, in a country that it has ruled for more than half Pakistan’s 62 years as an independent state.

Senior government officials said, the general’s discussions included the restoration of Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, former chief justice of the Supreme Court who was dismissed by Pervez Musharraf, when he was president, in 2007.

Mr Chaudhry’s dismissal prompted a nationwide protest by lawyers. Other contentious issues at the heart of the growing political dispute include last month’s verdict by the Supreme Court to disqualify Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister and main opposition leader, from standing for political office. His younger brother, Shehbaz Sharif, was also disqualified the same day.

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Kayani asks US to give Pakistan Cobra helicopters: Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan has asked the United States to provide it military hardware, including Cobra and Apache assault helicopter gunships, a private TV channel quoted unidentified military officials as saying on Friday. According to the channel, Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Kayani gave a list of demands to the US during his meetings with senior US military officials.

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20: Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani: The Global Elite: Newsweek

In theory this mumbling, chain-smoking general answers to President Asif Ali Zardari. But Kayani and his troops remain the dominant power in what could be the most dangerous country in the world. He's responsible for Pakistan's nukes; for the battle against Al Qaeda and its tribal allies along the Afghan border; and for managing tensions with neighbor India. So far, his army has kept itself out of politics and seems focused on the battle against jihadists. In the wake of the November terrorist attacks in Mumbai, Kayani stood firm on Pakistan's sovereignty while also taking measures against the alleged sponsors of the outrage.

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Military rift with Pakistan hurts war: Washington Times

Sara A. Carter

Two senior U.S. military officials say the U.S.-led war on terror is facing challenges in part because Pakistan's young military officers don't have the same relationship with their U.S. counterparts that their predecessors had.

In a recent interview with The Washington Times, Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said a top priority for the Pentagon is healing the longtime rift between the two militaries, which he said has deprived both nations of the trust needed to combat extremism.
"We don't know each other well enough, and us participating with them in their country is equally as important as them participating with us in our country," he said.

Army Maj. Gen. John M. Custer agreed. The commander of the U.S. Army Intelligence Center at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., he said U.S. forces are "dealing with guys who don't have any exposure to us."

"The older military leaders love us, they understand American culture, and they know we are not the enemy, but they are aging out of the force," he said.

Tensions with Pakistan's army go back long before the emergence of the Taliban and al Qaeda, both officers said.

"There's not a Pakistani junior officer that doesn't know who former Senator Pressler is, and there's not a junior officer in the U.S. military that knows who Senator Pressler is," Adm. Mullen said.

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Pakistan army chief to raise US missile strikes with NATO: AFP

6 hours ago
ISLAMABAD (AFP) — Pakistan's army chief will visit Brussels next week for talks with senior NATO officials about US missile strikes on Pakistani soil near the Afghanistan border, the military said.
The missile attacks by US drones in Pakistan's northwest tribal areas, which US and NATO officials describe as a safe haven for Taliban and Al-Qaeda, have sharply raised tensions between Washington and nuclear-armed Pakistan.
"Army chief Ashfaq Kayani will discuss the complexities of security issues and the need for a comprehensive approach, while fully addressing Pakistan's interest," the military said in a statement.
Kayani will undertake the three-day visit from Tuesday after receiving a special invitation from chief of the NATO military committee admiral Giampaolo Di Paola, it said.
The military committee is the highest forum of NATO, which meets regularly to discuss various strategic issues concerning the organization.

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BD shows interest in defence equipment: Dawn

By Iftikhar A. Khan
ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: The visiting army chief of Bangladesh, Gen Moeen U. Ahmed, has expressed interest in purchasing military equipment from Pakistan and sought the country�s assistance in upgrading a fleet of T-59 tanks through a joint venture.

He met the Joint Chiefs of the Staff Committee Chairman, Gen Tariq Majid, on Tuesday.

The Bangladesh�s army chief, who is here on a six-day official visit, also held meetings with Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar.

During his meeting with the JCSC chairman, he showed interest in obtaining assistance in the overhauling of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) aircraft, holding of Special Forces joint exercises with Pakistan and the purchase of communications equipment.

Gen Moeen also proposed to exchange instructors at the staff college level on mutual basis. He exchanged views focusing on matters of mutual interest, regional security and enhancement of defence ties.

Gen Tariq Majid highlighted the importance of special relations that exist between the two countries, which are characterised by religious affinity and commonality of views.

Both expressed satisfaction on the present level of military cooperation and stressed to further enhance the ties by holding joint training exercises, courses, joint venture in defence production and purchase of defence equipment.

Gen Majid said that Pakistan and Bangladesh share common perception on regional and international issues and emphasised the need to enhance common efforts and cooperation to further develop upon common objectives.

Gen Moeen U Ahmed visited the General Headquarters and called on Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

Both sides agreed to enhance their existing level of defence relationship.

They also discussed strategic issues to develop common understanding.

On arrival at the General Headquarters, General Moeen U Ahmed was presented a guard of honour. He reviewed the parade and took salute from smartly turned out contingent of the Pakistan Army.

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