Commanders meet today

Published April 9, 2014
- File Photo
- File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Army’s top brass is meeting on Wednesday, soon after Gen Raheel Sharif caused a stir with his remarks at a Special Services Group base in Tarbela.

The meeting, which is commonly known as Corps Commanders’ Conference, is a routine monthly affair at the General Headquarters where the commanders get together to discuss “professional matters and issues that are impacting national security”, but this time round the timing is being seen as important.

The army chief left no doubt with his comments at the SSG base that the military, contrary to what was being claimed by the political leadership, was neither comfortable nor on the same page with the government on a number of issues.

Gen Raheel’s comments that the army would “resolutely preserve its own dignity and institutional pride” sent shockwaves in the government circles.

It is said that the comments were made in the context of army’s concern over the trial of former military ruler retired Gen Pervez Musharraf on the charge of high treason.

But insiders insist that the army is neither at peace nor happy with the way the government is proceeding with its initiative of holding peace talks with militants involved in the killing of tens of thousands of countrymen.

Sources aware of Wednesday’s agenda said differences with the government were not on the formal list of items, but they were expecting an intense in-house discussion on the matter.

“It will be wrong to say that the matter will not be discussed; yes it is likely to dominate the proceedings,” an officer said.

While the general expectation is that rift will not be allowed to widen and both sides are already taking steps to avoid a face-off, but still the army is likely to keep some measure of pressure on the government.

“It is a very important matter that is related to institutional morale,” a defence analyst commented.

Opinion

Editorial

IHK resolution
08 Nov, 2024

IHK resolution

IF the Indian state is serious about its democratic credentials, then it should listen to the voices emanating from...
Climate realities
08 Nov, 2024

Climate realities

THE Air Quality Index in Lahore once again shot past the 1,000-level mark on Wednesday morning, registering at an...
Rule by fear
08 Nov, 2024

Rule by fear

THE abduction of an opposition MNA, as claimed by PTI, is yet another grim episode in Pakistan’s ongoing crisis of...
Trump 2.0
Updated 07 Nov, 2024

Trump 2.0

It remains to be seen how his promises to bring ‘peace’ to Middle East reconcile with his blatantly pro-Israel bias.
Fait accompli
07 Nov, 2024

Fait accompli

A SLEW of secretively conceived and hastily enacted legislation has achieved its intended result: the powers of the...
IPP contracts
07 Nov, 2024

IPP contracts

THE government expects the ongoing ‘negotiations’ with power producers aimed at revising the terms of sovereign...