Date:22/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/22/stories/2007092256041600.htm

International

Musharraf shakes up Army

Nirupama Subramanian

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, who told the Supreme Court earlier this week that he would step down as Army Chief if elected to another term as President, intensified speculation about his possible successor on Friday after he promoted six officers and appointed one of them to head the Inter-Services Intelligence. Nadeem Taj, among the six Major-Generals promoted to Lieutenant-General, takes over as ISI Director-General from Lt. Gen. Ashfaq Kiyani.

Mohsin Kamal, promoted as Lieutenant-General, takes over as commander 10 corps from Lt. Gen Tariq Majid, seen as a crucial posting because of its key role — it is also known as the Rawalpindi corps — in Pakistan’s military coups.

Gen. Musharraf has not yet announced the new postings of Lt. Gen. Kiyani and Lt. Gen. Majeed, reinforcing speculation that the two will move into the key slots of vice-chief of army staff and chairman joint chiefs of staff committee that are falling vacant on October 8. If Gen. Musharraf keeps his promise to the court, the new vice-chief may well be the next army chief.