Pakistan army chief announces retirement

The guessing game has begun after Pakistan’s all-powerful army chief, General Ashfaq Kayani, arguably the most powerful man in the nuclear-armed country, announced plans to resign. The army has ruled over Pakistan for more than half its history since independence, in 1947. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said he wants to separate the military from politics, after taken over the country’s foreign affairs and defence portfolios, in a sign of trying to wrest responsibilities from the army. However analysts believe it is unlikely the military will give up its hold on power so easily, especially after the West’s plans to withdraw troops out of neighbouring Afghanistan, by the end of the year. Further exacerbating Shairf’s problem is the diplomatic tension with Pakistan’s arch-rival, India, following recent clashes in the disputed Kashmir region. Nevertheless, Pakistan’s army had less meddled in politics under Kayani, than previous chiefs, and he was seen as a pragmatic leader willing to endorse public democracy. One retired senior army commander told Reuter, “"It's not just that Nawaz wants someone he can trust and who he can use to neutralize the army's political role.  The army also wants someone who will be able to work with Nawaz."