Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
PESHAWAR: The sacrifices made by Pakistani soldiers in the fight against terrorism are unparalleled, said Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani during his farewell visit to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on Friday, Express News reported.
General Kayani paid tribute to the army men who lost their lives on duty.
The army chief also examined the progress of the construction of a trade corridor in North and South Waziristan tribal regions.
The army has fought numerous battles in the tribal regions to wrest control from militants. The last major battleground was in Kurram where the army was locked in pitched battles for territorial control and suffered losses including those of high ranking officials.
Successor
General Kayani retires from his post of COAS on November 29, as speculations continue over his possible successor.
Who is going to succeed Kayani is a matter of speculation as the government has yet to make any official announcement in this regard.
Federal Information Minister Parvaiz Rashid has said that the announcement of the new army chief and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee will be made on the day Kayani retires.
One source pointed out that the government was considering naming the new army chief ahead of Kayani’s retirement; but later it put off its decision in order to give ‘an honourable farewell’ to the incumbent.
COMMENTS (30)
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The blame goes to Musharraf who gave control to the most incompetent man, unfitting, undeserving to lead the Pak army.
All the deaths of Pak soldiers that took place in internal fights were mainly due to be headings, or being shot after getting kidnapped. The very few actions in Swat, etc. were piecemeal, too less, too late instead of being comprehensive and well planned military actions. I am surprised that Musharraf, a capable & intelligent person himself, handed control to this idotic General. Pak Army has NOT protected Pakistan..sure it has built up impressive capability and armaments, however, it has done nothing in taking up the 'Real' , 'Manly' fight against the Sharia seeking TTP & JI. Where is their prowess? Fighting conventional wars such as those with India are considered 'simple' wars now-a-days. The one against TTP will be complex requiring more determination, will power and planning. Is Pak Army Army upto it? The clear answer is No! Pak Army has drained Pakistan of its resources and has held its foreign policy hostage to its narrow ends.
Long live the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps, Pakistan Rangers, PAF, and Navy. We won't forget the sacrifice of our martyrs. Good work, especially in FATA and Karachi.
History will remember Gen Kayani as the best thing that happened to Pakistan. It gives hope to the nation that they will see development of a fair and just society one day. Pakistans problems were created by contriy's top leadership and not by the military leadership and let them solve the problems. Armies today are meant to protest the countries from external aggressions- not to fight their own countrymen. If armymen are asked to kill their own people, there will be revolt in army. Do Pakistanis want that?
It is upto the political leadership to unertake reforms in the colonial structured army which it inherited after independence, with the key mission to restore the dignity of its rank and file. They must be well paid for the sevices and the sacrifice which is expected of them to protect the sovereignty of the State.
Rex Minor
you forgot the sacrifice of army official who died defending the writ of state ...lal masjid operation..judiciary openly insulted the shaheed soldiers...
The only brave army in the world whose citizens die everyday by terrorists and US drones and they . Not sure what exactly bravery means to arrange farewell dinners to their chief to boast about their sacrifices.
I would not be that unkind to him as most of you are. In my opinion, he knows very well that the Army is greatly divided whether to take on TTP directly, especially in the rank and file.
The youngsters are reluctant to join army as they knew they will be killed one day by the monsters.
Most toothless, spineless and impotent COAS in the history of the country. The best 'men and machine' in this part of the region has been turned into a 'good for nothing' army.
There is no doubt in my mind that the Pakistani military is staging chaos in the tribal areas.
When the government has achieved its aim, it will immediately take control of the tribal areas.
What I read is "army have all rights to rule, by any means. "
old man biryani sorry kayani, you are a stooge for USA, Mossad, RAW, you sold the country. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME on you and your ilk.
Whatever became of the Generals that were recalled to service for court martial as they were involved in NLC and Railway land scams? They sailed into the sunset and so will Gen K.
Sir why you stopped the pay of Munawar Uncle from JI He is so worried and the day reached here where he is forced to say Army Men are not Shaheed. Sir please look in to the matter the Prices are soaring high and if in the case the kids are gettting education in US so expenses could not be filled by JI providing salary. So please again start the mouth shut allowance again
For last ten years you arre effective or defective Army chief and Pakistan crippled to thisstage,Are you not Responsible? You Totally faile to controlled the frontiers aswell inside terrotory.What Kind of General you were simply conspiring bringning corrupts in power?
You are the most impotent army General Pakistan army have seen . You failed to eliminate the most hardcore terrorist from Pakistani soil . Shame on you !
Gen Kiyni you will remembered as Gen AAK Niazi andYayaha Khan. You are real Mir Jaffer andMir sadiq of Pakistan Army.
@Ch. Allah Daad: Also of Ch. Nisar don't forget.
Your soldiers and Pakistan deserved a better military leader. Civilian losses are ten times higher than military and despite 40,000 deaths you still are reluctant to commit to a sustainable offensive against the terrorist. Any other country would have fired him a long time ago.
And how many lost lives due to sub-standard training and not employing proper security procedures (does the Army have such things ?) ? Why has no Army general been taken to task for these lapses ?
Prediction : I Predict from now that Lt. General Rashad Mehmood second in command will be our new cheif though violation of seniority, While Lt. General Haroon Aslam will be made Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee because He is SSG Commando Like Pervaiz Musharaf and our PM afraid of SSG as a Army Cheif :)
Young men with so much to look forward to; sacrificed their today for our tommarow. Many left young Widows and small orphans behind. They are the unsung heroes who bravely embraced death so the common citizens are saved from getting murdered by terrorists on the streets of Pakistan. They may not be great intellectuals like the many left wing liberals who play with words and make excuses for the demise of Pakistan army. But these fallen men surely proved their worth by their unparalleled sacrifices. Thank you very much my dear army men. We owe you so much that cannot be repaid in our life time. Long live Pak Army.
Soldiers are sacrificing,what about you,being effective or defective chief of most powerful organisation 1.Compelled Musharrf to do NRO. 2.Toppled Musharraf from behind supported lawyer movement 3.Impose Zardari allowed full unchecked loot of Pakistan. 4.Now you imposed Nawaz Sharif to loot 5.As per Article 62/63 only your ex Boss barred froom ellection.rest All fair and non corrupt. 6.Men who humiliated GHQ still unpunishable their death warrat returned but you are trying your best to punish your ex boss who trusted even more than his real colleague. 7.Americans intruded in Abbottabad ,Not a single bullet was fired. 8.In Salala American and Afghan came in killed 28 Jawansnot a single bullet fired in defence. 9.Only 7 drone in your boss period but you allowed 700 drone? 100.You don;t fel shame enemy attacked most sensitive defenceStallments Kamra/Mehran/Risalpur yu remained sleep.
Our brave soldiers, officers and policemen, who died in the line of duty are our real heroes. Those murderers who martyred our best and bravest can be heroes of Imran Khan and Munawar Hussain, but not ours.
Point is what did you do to prevent happening that?
what sacrifice or even an effort, has been provided by the departing General?
Sacrifices by soldiers are unparalleled: Kayani
So why then did Pakistan refuse to accept their dead bodies back during Kargil?
please leave the army,even Pakistan. we pray to get a better COAS after you. The blood of these martyrs will remain on your hands forever! May God do justice!
aafcourse!!! ( Meera)