Admiral Mullen denies US involvement in General Kayani’s tenure extension
July 25th, 2010 - 1:04 pm ICT by ANI
Islamabad, July 25(ANI): US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, Admiral Mike Mullen, has denied speculation that the Obama administration had put pressure on the Pakistan government to extend Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani’s tenure.
Kayani was originally due to retire on November 28, but will now remain in office until 2013, The News reports.
Addressing the media at the US embassy in Islamabad, Mullen said: “Pakistan is a sovereign country and it is internal issue of Pakistan.”
He had earlier praised Kayani for taking “bold steps” as the Army chief, saying that he has moved troops to the Afghan border, cracked down against militants and equipped the paramilitary Frontier Corps.
Other US military officials had earlier described Kayani as a “soldier’s soldier”, and predicted that the army would perform much better under him than his predecessor Pervez Musharraf, who was often distracted by politics while serving as both President and Army chief.
The three-year extension of Kayani’s tenure is only the second such incident in Pakistan’s history when a civilian regime has increased the services of the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS).
The first such extension was given by former president Iskandar Mirza to General Ayub Khan.
The three army chiefs-Field Marshal Ayub Khan, General Zia-ul-Haq and General Pervez Musharraf had extended their own terms while holding the office of the President. (ANI)
- 'PML-N not consulted on Kayani's extension' - Jul 25, 2010
- Kayani's extension beneficial for Pakistan: Musharraf - Jul 25, 2010
- Pak's major stakeholders in 'secure position' until 2013: Gilani - Jul 24, 2010
- Kayani's tenure extension will undermine Pak parliament's authority: Experts - Jul 24, 2010
- Peshawar High Court seeks explanation on Kayani's tenure extension - Aug 12, 2010
- Jamaat-i-Islami urges Kayani to 'justify' tenure extension - Jul 28, 2010
- Kayani's tenure extension 'administrative affair': Gilani to PML-N - Jul 26, 2010
- Kayani's tenure extension not done under pressure: Gilani - Jul 23, 2010
- Kayani's 'rare' three-year extension only second in Pak history - Jul 23, 2010
- Protecting Pak's integrity to be priority during three-year extended term: Kayani - Nov 29, 2010
- Gilani sacks Defence Secretary, takes on army (Night Lead) - Jan 11, 2012
- Zardari, Kayani systematically worked for Musharraf's 'honourable exit': Wikileaks - Dec 08, 2010
- Pakistan army chief gets three year extension - Jul 23, 2010
- N.Waziristan offensive decision to be based on Pak's need, not US dictates: Gilani - Oct 15, 2010
- US to supply 85 drones to Pakistan - Apr 22, 2011
Tags: admiral mike mullen, admiral mullen, army chief, army chiefs, army staff, ashfaq, ayub khan, bold steps, chief general, chiefs of staff, field marshal, general pervez musharraf, general zia ul haq, joint chiefs of staff, kayani, pakistan government, pervez musharraf, sovereign country, us embassy in islamabad, zia ul haq