Pakistan's Army chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, has warned India of a decisive response to any provocation, emphasizing the dangers of war in a nuclear environment. He also accused India of using terrorism to destabilize Pakistan and urged the resolution of core issues.
While Asim Malik's role in Pakistan's recent warming up of relations with the US is acknowledged, army watchers note a recent distancing, what with Asim Munir not wanting his DG, ISI to share the limelight during his subsequent sojourns to Tampa and Brussels, points out Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W.
Creating a powerful new chief of defence forces has split the Pakistan military into four competing factions, points out Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W.
Pakistan has offered to join any neutral and transparent probe into the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 people. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also warned India against any attempt to stop, reduce or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan, saying any such action would be responded to with full force and might. Sharif said Pakistan has always condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and has endured immense loss of over 90,000 casualties and economic losses exceeding USD 600 billion. He also reiterated Pakistan's support for the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people.
'Pakistan's army has got a streak of democracy. It is more democratic than the country.'
The Pakistan army's Bahawalpur Corps has always had a special significance for India as it keeps an eye on the Jaish e Mohammed, explains Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W.
'It could take the form of sporadic LoC violation through heavy artillery and mortar fire, focusing on border villages where the Hindu Dogra population is predominant.'
'Munir hopes to solidify his hold on power.'
Asim Munir and his brand of short-sighted army officers give no inkling of paying heed, changing course or learning lessons from the past, observes Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi has indicated that a decision on Shaheen Shah Afridi's future as captain of the T20 team will be taken after the upcoming national camp in Kakul.
Apart from partly meeting the resentment which may have built among 80th PMA officers, the appointments would seem to be based on sound professional considerations, notes Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at R&AW, India's external intelligence agency.
Whenever tenures of army chiefs were extended in the recent past, prime ministers were subsequently eased out of office by the same army chief, notes Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W.
Asim Malik's shift to the important DG, ISI post comes as something of a surprise now, but it indicates the army chief's confidence in him, notes Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reorganized its selection committee by doing away with the chairman's post and giving powers to the selectors to pick the captain and head coach of the national team.
Controversial Pakistan left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir has decided to come out of international retirement and make himself available for selection for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Americas in June.
Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has come out in defence of his son-in-law Shaheen Shah Afridi following speculation that the tall pace bowler was going to be removed as the national T20 captain.
Shane Watson turned down after the Pakistan head coach job after details of the contract were leaked to the media.
A well-informed source close to Shaheen said that the bowler was upset that not even once the PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi or the national selectors have spoken to him about their future plans as far as the captaincy or appointment of coaches is concerned.
Aware of simmering dissensions within the top echelons of the army, Munir has moved slowly in reshuffling senior generals, observes Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W, India's external intelligence agency.
But the ISI chief did not retire giving the impression that he has won General Asim Munir's trust, notes Rana Banerji who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W.
The military establishment is in no mood to forgive or forget Imran's anti-military utterances, observes Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RAW, India's external intelligence agency.
How Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa deals with the ensuing reshuffle of lieutenant generals would be interesting to watch, notes Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at the Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency.
Learning perhaps from the Kargil debacle, Musharraf tried hard to evolve as a statesman in his dealings with India, recalls Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W.
If General Asim Munir, Pakistan's new army chief, wants to help defuse the current polarised atmosphere and shepherd civilian politicians towards negotiations on an acceptable date for elections, he may need to distance himself from any perception of needless hostility to Imran Khan, explains Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W, India's external intelligence agency.
In an apparent riposte to Afghanistan and India, Pakistan Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Saturday said Pakistan was fully capable of defeating any "external direct threat" despite the current focus of the security forces on internal security.
Pakistani Army has "broken" the backbone of terrorists and will soon prevail over them, its powerful chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said on Saturday in an apparent riposte to the United States concerns about his force's capability to take on militants.
In a major embarrassment for Pakistan's powerful army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden was killed just yards from a military compound that he visited last month where he had famously claimed that his forces had broken the "terrorist backbone".
A retired Pakistan army officer incurs army chief General Bajwa's wrath, reveals Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at the Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency.
In an apparent reference to India, Pakistan today said it was concerned over the "massive arms acquisitions" in the region and that it is committed to defend itself against all external and internal threats.
After government and political leaders, it was the turn of Pakistan army chief Gen Raheel Sharif to rake up the issue of Kashmir and breathe fire saying their armed forces were fully capable of meeting any 'external threat'.
Raking up the Kashmir issue, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said it is the "main source of tension" in Indo-Pak relations and sought its peaceful resolution to explore new ways to bolster bilateral ties.
Major General Asif Ghafoor's transfer indicates General Qamar Bajwa is well in control once more, pushing behind the discontent among the peer group of senior generals over extension of his tenure, says Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at the Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency.
It is unlikely Brigadier Raja Rizwan was working for RA&W, notes Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at the Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency.
Bajwa said that this desire for peace must not, in any sense, be construed as a sign of weakness.
Pakistan middle-order batsman Umar Akmal has launched a stinging attack against his country's media for constantly highlighting negative stories about him and spoiling his name in every little situation. The swashbuckling batsman made a promising debut in 2009, when he absolutely thrashed bowlers in the domestic circuit. Akmal also smashed blistering 102 runs in the third ODI of his debut series against Sri Lanka before introducing himself in the Test arena in a similar manner, scoring a brilliant 129 and 75 against New Zealand at Dunedin in November 2009. The 26-year-old, however, has been stuttering with form in the recent times, with possibilities of scoring big runs have now become a rare occurrence. Blaming the media for his inconsistent performance, Akmal believes he would be able to perform better if journalist stop turning every little issue into a big deal, the Dawn reported.
Senior Pakistani cricketers have taken great umbrage at the remarks made by PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan that the absence of educated players in the national team has led to recent poor performances. Senior batsman Muhammad Hafeez said cricket itself is a complete education. "I am proud to be a Test cricketer and for me this is my degree," Hafeez said on the social media a clear reference to Khan's remarks. Making it obvious that he did not agree with Khan's views, Hafeez said while education was very important for everyone but earning degrees was not enough in life. Hafeez expressed confidence that Pakistan's Test squad would perform well even in English conditions. The experienced batsman is not attending the boot camp in Kakul as he is undergoing rehabilitation for a knee problem at the national academy in Lahore.
India should remember that Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations will remain special due, not least, to bonds of all Muslims with The Holy Land. They would also be strategic enough, irrespective of whether the ambassador is a military man or a career civilian appointee., notes Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at the Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday praised the powerful Army and its chief Gen Raheel Sharif and stressed on the need to work together for a strong economy, democracy and containment of terrorism.
With the maulana fully committed and PML (N) cadres prepared to court arrest, this would be the first time where both Punjabis and Pakhtuns would be standing up against the Pakistan army, notes Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at the Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency.
The Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Shaharyar Khan says absence of educated players in the national team was one of the reasons for its recent poor performance.
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