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| The Alliance |
| Pak reshuffles military |
| 2001-10-09 |
WASHINGTON: Pakistan is being weaned away from its hard-line militaristic posture as a result of American and British pressure arising from the strong views India has expressed over their courtship of Islamabad. Washington's promise that it will hold Gen. Musharraf's feet to the fire appears to have some merit in it considering the military regime's moves over the past two days to sideline extreme elements from the country's political and military fabric. After agreeing to crack down on fundamentalist leaders like Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Sami-ul Haq, Musharraf has also undertaken a military reshuffle that is reported to have marginalised or retired generals with pro-Taliban views. Among the "retirees" are ISI chief Gen. Mahmoud Ahmed, who was in the US at the time of the September 11 terrorist attack and the Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt.Gen Usmani. Even more significantly, Lt Gen Mohammed Aziz, the seniormost general after Musharraf who played a major role in the Kargil debacle, has been elevated to the largely ceremonial post of Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. All three had played a key role in Musharraf usurping power in Pakistan and were vital cogs in the October 99 coup. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |