ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kiani is taking gradual steps to restore the Pak Army’s respect among the general public and confidence among the political parties, a responsible Army official said here Sunday. Responding queries by SANA, he said that the press release issued after the 107th Corps Commanders Conference on March 6 was prepared after considering minute details and it was not correct to give individual interpretations to it. He said to drive out the conclusion that the president had complete backing of the Army could only be termed as imagination of some circles.
The official said that it had been said in the press release that “The COAS indicated that an impression was being given that gulf between the Army and the president was widening.” He said nowhere in this line or the whole press release, it was elaborated whether the gulf between the Army and the president was widening or decreasing. He further said that this was not an issue at all.
The official said that what was stressed in the press release were the constitutional responsibilities of the Army and the reiteration that the Army would fulfill its responsibilities. Further, it would keep distance from the political process and support the elected government.
The official said that in the press release there was a message for Pakistan’s political powers and the new elected government that Army would remain within its constitutional limits in future. The COAS also expressed hope that the Army would not be dragged into unnecessary and controversial matters.
He said that the people were commenting on the discussion which started after reports about resignation by the president and the Corps Commanders Conference but there was a clear message about the detachment from the political process and the support of the elected government.
He said that the COAS and the Army commanders were focusing to remove the gulf between the Army and the people which was created intentionally or unintentionally in the past. In this connection the COAS was taking gradual steps of various natures so as to enable the Army to cope with the internal and external challenges in totality and as a professional Army. He said that the country was facing the biggest challenge of terrorism at present. Military and civil officials were becoming target of the suicide attacks from day to day. He said that the internal stability was the priority of the Army in view of the changing situation of the region.
When asked if the said press release was issued after the visit of the US Admiral Michael Mullen and his meeting with the COAS, the official said that the Pak Army was a professional Army which had a number of able people who had ability to cope with the dangers and challenges to the country’s security in the days to come and the visit of the US Admiral had nothing to do with it.
He said that the Army leadership was also reviewing the reasons as the result of which, Army was being made target of the terrorist activities and how to end these attacks. He said the Army had reiterated in the wake of internal and external challengesl facing the country that constitutional working relationship was necessary between the Army and the parliament which includes the president and the prime minister.
When asked how the army viewed the statement of President Pervez Musharraf that the Army did not like Benazir Bhutto, he said that the statement of the president was disliked among the Army. He further said that this statement at the time of martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto was highly irrelevant and against our societal moralities as it was not good to say anything negative about those who were not present in this world. He said it could be personal views of the president which were not shared buy the Army.-SANA
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