ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army chief Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani yesterday brought about major changes in the army’s staff and command structure, with the key appointment being that of Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shujaa Pasha as the new head of its powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency.
Pasha, formerly the head of military operations, was named director general of the ISI replacing Lt. Gen. Nadeem Taj, who has been made a corps commander of 21 Corps in Gujranwala. The changes come amid US accusations that the agency secretly backs Taleban on the Afghan border.
The move is part of a major shake-up of the army’s top brass. Pasha is considered to be a close aide to Kayani, who ran the ISI until October 2007. Taj, by contrast, was a key lieutenant of former President Pervez Musharraf. The army insisted the 14 new appointments announced yesterday were routine.
The other changes saw Lt. Gen. Mustafa Khan being made chief of general staff, Lt. Gen. Tahir Mahmud given the important post of the 10 Corps Commander replacing Lt. Gen. Mohsin Kamal.
The man who pioneered armor technology Brig. Tanvir Tahir has been elevated to the major general rank, while Lt. Gen. Ayaz Salim is made the chairman of Heavy Industries Texila (HIT) where Pakistan manufactures tanks and other heavy arms. Lt. Gen. Muhammad Yousaf has been made corps commander 31 Corps.
