Rawalpindi shift

In this year of transitions,the new army chief could signal the most pivotal change in Pakistan or not.

In exercising his prerogative to pick the chief of army staff,Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif played true to form. He superseded the senior-most general,overlooked outgoing chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayanis favourite and opted for a surprise choice,a soldier from his political base of Lahore. With Raheel Sharif set to take over,another one of many transitions appears to have been effected with minimal turbulence in this pivotal year for Pakistan. A new chief justice is to take over from Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry next month. General Sharif inherits command of the army in a wider political and security backdrop enormously shaped by Kayani. And with the federal and provincial administrations straining to push the envelope on matters of foreign policy and security,and Pakistans external environment headed for a change with the American drawdown in Afghanistan next year,the new chief may have to show his hand more than his taciturn predecessor. Nawaz Sharifs perceived angling to win back some foreign policy space for the elected government apart,the new chiefs conduct will be observed for hints of what the generation shift may mean for Army GHQ in Rawalpindi itself.

Kayanis six years as army chief bridged the presidency of General Pervez Musharraf and the elected PPP government. On his watch,Pakistans first democratic transition from one elected government to another took place. In fact,a Kayani doctrine of sorts could be seen,that it was not in the armys interest to be directly in charge of governance. Accordingly,the practice of army officers being seconded for administrative tasks was rolled back. However,in these years,Kayani also drew thick red lines on the governments initiative in internal security and foreign policy. Through controversies like Memogate,a working relationship was solidified whereby Islamabad would squarely cede the final word on foreign relations,especially with regard to India,the US and Afghanistan,in addition to the traditional army preserves of the nuclear weapons programme and management of the ISIs anti-India assets.

It is too early to predict how Kayanis exit may impact the core commanders stance on the prime ministers campaign promise to promote cordial relations with neighbouring countries. But that should not inhibit India from reaffirming its offer to work to strengthen the constituency for peace and prosperity in Pakistan.