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Saturday, November 30, 2013
Gen Raheel takes over as Kayani says farewells* Kayani says commanding a prestigious 600,000-strong army was an honour
* Pays gratitude to those martyred in fight against Taliban
RAWALPINDI: The incoming chief of army staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif, assumed the command of Pakistan Army at a ceremony held at Army Hockey Stadium near General Headquarters (GHQ) on Friday.
Outgoing COAS General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani formally relinquished the command of Pakistan Army by handing over ‘Malacca Cane’ to the new army chief. Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif, senior serving and retired military and civil officers, diplomats, soldiers, students and members of foreign and local media witnessed the prestigious ceremony.
Addressing the audience, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said that Pakistan armed forces were fully prepared to thwart internal and external threats. He said that with the support of the entire nation Pakistan Army had been fighting the menace of terrorism for the last 10 years. “Peace was restored in difficult and remote areas due to high spirit and matchless sacrifices rendered by our officers and soldiers.” Paying rich tributes to the martyrs, he said they were benefactors of the nation as well as the country.
Gen Kayani said that the Pakistan Army had been successfully defending sovereignty of the country for the last 66 years and has always remained at the forefront to meet the internal threats and natural calamities. “Pakistanis are talented, hardworking and valiant nation while our country is bestowed with precious natural resources,” he added. He said that there was a need to forge unity among the ranks and put the country on the path to progress by setting aside all the sectarian, linguistic and ethnic differences.
Commenting on the command handing-over ceremony, he said that it was a memorable event of his life, and had a special importance in his career in Pakistan Army, spanning over 44 years. Gen Kayani said that commanding a prestigious army of the world for six years was an honour for him. Expressing good wishes to the new army chief, he expressed the confidence that under the leadership of General Raheel Sharif, Pakistan Army would continue to enhance its professional capability.
Earlier, a military band enthralled the audience with exquisite national and regional tunes before the arrival of Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Chief of Army Staff-designate, Gen Raheel Sharif at the stadium. A smartly-turned-out contingent of Pakistan Army presented general salute to Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who also reviewed the parade.
Gen Raheel Sharif takes over as head of the nuclear-armed state’s 600,000-strong army with a daunting array of challenges ahead of him. A veteran infantry commander, analysts say Raheel Sharif is a dedicated soldier with little interest in politics. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif passed over two more senior generals to appoint his namesake, who is no relation.
Just prior to his appointment, Gen Raheel Sharif was serving as inspector general training and evaluation with the rank of Lt General. He holds the Hilal-i-Imtiaz military award, and is the younger brother of late Major Shabbir Sharif, who received the Nishan-i-Haider for his services in the 1971 war.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmad was on Friday appointed the new chief of general staff (CGS) of Pakistan Army. According to ISPR, before his promotion to the rank of lieutenant general, Ahmad was director general military operations (DGMO) for over two years. He has commanded a strike infantry division and led successful military operation in Swat. Lt Gen Nadeem has also been chief of staff of a strike corps. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk