RAWALPINDI // The new head of Pakistan’s army took over onTuesday amid a ratcheting-up of tensions with arch-rival India over disputed Kashmir and rockier relations with Afghanistan.
General Qamar Javed Bajwa was to be installed at a ceremony in the garrison town of Rawalpindi, replacing General Raheel Sharif, who steps down after completing his three-year term during which the military launched several operations against al-Qaida, Taliban and local militants to dismantle their sanctuaries near Afghanistan and elsewhere in the country.
But as he handed over command, the hugely popular outgoing military chief warned that it would be dangerous for India to mistake his country’s “restraint” over recent activity in Kashmir for weakness.
Speaking at a colourful ceremony at a stadium at army headquarters in Rawalpindi, adjacent to the capital Islamabad, Gen Sharif said, “Unfortunately, in recent months, increasing state terrorism in (Indian) occupied Kashmir, and India’s aggressive steps have put the region’s peace in danger. I want to make it clear to India that considering our policy of restraint a weakness would be dangerous for her.” The gathering applauded loudly as he continued, “This is reality, that in South Asia, lasting peace and progress is impossible without solution of the Kashmir issue. For that, international community’s special attention is necessary.”
Gen. Bajwa was fourth in seniority on a list of five army generals sent for consideration to prime minister Nawaz Sharif. According to the constitution, the prime minister can pick any officer from the list forwarded to him by the Defence Ministry but Gen Bajwa was not regarded as a front-runner until the prime minister chose him.
The change in command takes place in a ceremony dating back to British colonial times, in which the outgoing army chief publicly hands his “Malacca stick” — a thick bamboo cane which is part of the Pakistan army uniform — to his successor, witnessed by civilian and military leaders, and diplomats. The military has ruled Pakistan for nearly half the time since the country became independent in 1947.
Increasing tensions over the Himalayan region of Kashmir means Pakistan and India have both withdrawn some diplomats from each other’s capitals over the last several weeks, following a deadly assault on an Indian army base in September that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militants. India said it had responded to the September attack by carrying out “surgical strikes” across the heavily militarised border, sparking fury from Islamabad, which denied the strikes took place.
There have been repeated incidents of cross-border shellings and gunfire from both sides since, claiming the lives of dozens of people, including civilians.
Observers believe Gen. Bajwa will offer more support to Sharif’s efforts to improve ties with Pakistan’s neighbours, including Afghanistan and India.
Pakistan’s relations with Kabul have also soured amid allegations from Afghan officials that Islamabad shelters the Taliban, who have intensified attacks against the government of President Ashraf Ghani.
Pakistan’s army says it has dismantled many militant sanctuaries in the tribal regions, but the militants have still been able to carry out high-profile attacks.
Gen. Bajwa, who was commissioned in the 16 Baloch Regiment in October 1980, is a graduate of Canadian Forces Command and Staff College in Canada, and the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.
* Associated Press
* Agence France-Presse
