Islamabad: Lt. General Nadeem Taj posted as Adjutant of General Head Quarter

Nadeem Taj replaces Kiani as ISI chief

Saturday, September 22, 2007
Six major-generals promoted as lieutenant-generals

By Shakil Shaikh

RAWALPINDI: Lt Gen Nadeem Taj has been appointed as the head of the country's premier intelligence agency – the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Maj Gen Taj was promoted as 3-star general and posted to the ISI in place of Lt Gen Pervez Ashfaq Kiani, who could be appointed as the successor to General Musharraf as the Army chief, if things go according to the script.

A total of six major generals were promoted as lieutenant generals here on Friday. The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Northern Areas, Maj Gen Mohsin Kamal, also a winner of sword of honour, has been posted as commander Rawalpindi Corps on his promotion as 3-star general. He succeeds Lt Gen Tariq Majeed, who could either be appointed as the next chief of the Army staff or the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.

The much-awaited announcement of the new Army chief in place of General Musharraf, if all goes well and the Supreme Court allows him to contest the October 6 presidential election for a second time, would be made most likely either on September 29 or once President Musharraf is elected for the second time on October 6.

High-level sources say it is not necessary that either of the two 3-star generals – Kiani and Majeed –get the top slot. They said either one of them or anyone from the senior-most 14 lieutenant generals would get this appointment with the president enjoying complete discretion in this regard.

Similarly, on the retirement of General Ihsanul Haq as the chairman of the JCSC in the first week of October, one of the senior 3-star generals would be promoted as 4-star general and get this appointment.

However, the entire scenario is not yet fully clear as it all depends on the Supreme Court’s judgment on holding of dual offices by President General Musharraf. If the judgment disappoints the "architects of the future game plan", then nothing can be predicted.

It is, however, expected that the two senior-most lieutenant generals – Kiani and Majeed – would be promoted to the rank of the general, as in case of President General Musharraf finally doffing his uniform, the office of the VCOAS would no more be required and also that General Ahsan Hayat would get retired by October 8.

The appointments at the top level in the Army are being keenly watched by all interested, as it would set the future tone of country’s security and national affairs. If President Musharraf's nomination papers are accepted by September 29 and he contests the election on October 6, the present promotion and posting of general officers would be the last time that General Musharraf ordered it as the COAS.

Taj's elevation as the new spymaster of Pakistan comes as no surprise. He was Director General Military Intelligence (DG MI) but got fame when he was the military secretary to the president, his name being mentioned in the book authored by President General Pervez Musharraf.

The sources say that both Kiani and Majeed will soon get new appointments and with it, the current cycle of promotions, transfers and postings will be over. However, if there is a new Army chief, he may announce postings/transfers of senior military generals like every new COAS in the past.

Four other major generals – Javed Zia, Shujaat Zamir Dar, Muhammad Asghar, and Jamil Haider – have also been promoted as lieutenant generals.

General Dar, a highly promising soldier with impeccable record and rich experience of dealing with the Balochistan insurgency, Army training matters and of corruption by politicians and bureaucrats, has been posted as the director general of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF). He also served in the NAB prior to his posting as the IG FC Balochistan where he got hurt when President General Musharraf's helicopter was attacked at Kohlu. Currently, he was dealing with training matters at the GHQ.

General Javed Zia of Rangers in Karachi has been posted as Dy Chief of General Staff (DCGS) on promotion to 3-star general and, similarly, DCGS Jamil Haider has been posted as DG C4I in the GHQ.

Major General Muhammad Asghar, who comes from the engineering branch, has been posted as Rector of the National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) on his promotion to lieutenant general.