Pakistan Challenges in 2014

This year is the ongoing war on terror which has taken its toll on the Army. Proposed peace talks which have so far have made no headway and about which the nation stands divided is another weighty problem. Possibility of launching a major military operation in North Waziristan (NW) cannot be ruled out in case the talks fail.

By Brig Asif Haroon Raja/Opinion Maker

Learning from his folly of sidelining most deserving and senior most Lt Gen Ali Kuli Khan and appointing Gen Pervez Musharraf as COAS in October 1998, PM Nawaz Sharif this time acted sensibly. Hullabaloo made by the media over delay in announcing the names of new CJCSC and COAS and then the supersession of Lt Gen Haroon Aslam was soon drowned after he appointed second and third senior most officers Gen Rashad Mahmood and Gen Raheel Sharif as CJCSC and COAS respectively strictly on merit.

Both are professionally sound with sterling qualities of head and heart and enjoy clean reputation. Gen Rashad is a go-getter and is likely to infuse more life in his huge organization. Belonging to a martial family and brother of Maj Shabbir Sharif Shaheed Nishan-e-Haider, Gen Raheel is fully qualified to take forward the good work done by his predecessor Gen Kayani. He has taken no time to settle down and make his presence felt. He knows that 2014 will be a highly challenging year.