Islamabad, Against the backdrop of tension with the army after his sacking of the defence secretary, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Wednesday that his government had no dispute with the armed forces and democracy would continue to function in the country. Gilani, who dismissed Defence Secretary Naeem Khalid Lodhi earlier in the day for submitting statements of army and spy agency chiefs to the apex court panel hearing the Memogate case, told reporters later that his government was holding nothing against anyone. He assured that the senate elections would be held on time and democracy would continue to function, Geo News reported. Gilani also revealed that the Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani had talked to him over phone before issuance of the strong military reaction by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR). "We have always stood by the army and we have nothing against anyone," the prime minister said. Regarding his interview to a Chinese newspaper on the replies submitted by the aarmy chief and Inter-Services Intelligence chief Lt. Gen. Ahmad Shuja Pasha in the memo case, Gilani said the replies should have been sent through the defence ...
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Islambad, Pakistan's political and military establishments were set for a showdown as Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani sacked the defence secretary Wednesday after coming under attack from the military. In a move that caught many by surprise, Gilani asserted his authority by dismissing Naeem Khalid Lodhi, a retired lieutenant general widely seen to be close to army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. Cabinet Secretary Nargis Sethi was asked to take charge of the post. In his first public comments after firing Lodhi, Gilani told reporters that his government had no dispute with the armed forces and democracy would continue to function in the country, Geo News reported. He said that his government was holding nothing against anyone and assured democracy would continue. Gilani also revealed that Kayani, who has called an emergency meeting of the army's top commanders Thursday, had talked to him over phone before issuance of the strong military reaction by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR). Pakistan's all-powerful army warned earlier Wednesday that the prime minister's recent "critical comments" of the military would have "serious ramifications" with ...
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Kabul, US allied commander in Afghanistan has said his country’s efforts to repair ties with Pakistan had led to a ‘moderate’ progress but there is no indication that Islamabad would re- open crucial supply routes soon. “Although it was cordial, it was a very businesslike conversation between two generals, and in the end both of us were committed to working that issue. I do have a sense of progress,” The Washington Post quoted U.S. and NATO troops Commander in Afghanistan Marine General John R. Allen, as saying. His statement came after he telephoned Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani for the first time since November 26 raid. Pakistan had earlier sealed NATO supply route across its border with Afghanistan, after 28 soldiers were killed in an airstrike in Mohmand Agency on November 26. Allen said though US-Pak ties were “chilled”, Kayani has hinted that he would likely reinstate Pakistan liaison officers who had been assigned joint border communication posts. Allen said he did not touch upon the issue of closing of key border crossings, and the move has not severely affected the coalition’s ability to supply its forces in Afghanistan till ...
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Islamabad, Pakistan's powerful army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani discussed matters of national security with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani following a NATO airstrike that left two dozen Pakistan Army soldiers dead late last month. General Kayani met Gilani here Friday, reported Associated Press of Pakistan. The meeting took place amidst speculation over the health of President Asif Ali Zardari, who abruptly left for Dubai Tuesday. His departure led to coup rumours that were scotched by the US. A secret memo to Washington had said Zardari feared a military coup after the May 2 operation to kill Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. The army chief apprised Gilani of the steps taken on the western border to revamp the defence capabilities aimed at effectively countering the recurrence of the incursion into the Pakistan territory, reported Associated Press of Pakistan. On Nov 26, NATO helicopter gunships attacked two Pakistan Army checkposts in Mohmand Agency, leaving 24 soldiers dead and sparking outrage in the country. Islamabad promptly cut off NATO supplies through the country and told the US to vacate the Shamsi airbase. The prime minister said the democratic ...
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Islamabad, Pakistan is rethinking its strategy on the Afghan border, with the focus shifting from battling militants to ensuring security following the Nov 26 NATO attack that left 24 Pakistani soldiers dead. Pakistan Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said in a message to his soldiers that they need to not wait for directions from the high command to give a crushing reply to any future aggression. Dawn said that the message points to a rethink in the military command about the role of soldiers posted on the border with Afghanistan. The soldiers on the Afghan border are principally assigned to combat militants rather than dealing with border security. The soldiers are given weapons relevant to the task they are expected to perform, the media report said, adding that the NATO attack has forced a rethink of the strategy with the focus shifting from fighting militants to ensuring security of the border. NATO helicopters attacked two Pakistan Army checkposts in Mohmand Agency, killing two dozen soldiers and sparking outrage in the ...
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Islamabad, Any future aggression will see Pakistan responding "with full force, regardless of the cost and consequences" and soldiers need not wait for directions from the high command, army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has told his troops. In his first message to the troops after the Nov 26 NATO attack that left 24 soldiers dead, the powerful army chief said Thursday that aggressors would not be able to evade a crushing retaliation in future. The general permitted the soldiers to respond to any attack without waiting for directions from the high command, reported Dawn. "Be assured that we will not let the aggressor walk away easily," Kayani said in a message for the troops. The message said that he had "clearly directed that any act of aggression will be responded with full force, regardless of the cost and consequences". The general's message was drafted to improve the morale of soldiers over the Nov 26 NATO airstrike on two Pakistan Army checkposts in Mohmand Agency that left 24 soldiers dead. Kayani said he was proud of his soldiers who responded with all resources at their disposal, including artillery. "We all salute the courage displayed by brave ...
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