ISI Chief unlikely to get extension
The Government is unlikely to give the ISI Chief, Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha an extension once his tenure comes to an end on March 18. There is also no indication that the Army Chief, General Kayani would be interested in an extension for him.
Media reports quote an official as saying that the government is believed to be actively considering naming a successor weeks before General Pasha's extended tenure ends, in a bid to preempt any further misunderstanding with the military. Despite the current friction between the civil and military authorities, consultations are said to be underway for the appointment of the new DG ISI. Among the names being considered are the Chief of General Staff, Lt General Wahid Arshad, Corps Commander Karachi, Lt-General Muhammad Zahirul Islam and Corps Commander Peshawar, Lt-General Khalid Rabbani. All three are to retire in 2014. Lt. General Zahirul Islam also in the running for the post has had a previous stint with the ISI.
Source(S): The Express Tribune, January 19, 2012.
Kayani, Zardari meet amidst rising tensions
The Army Chief, General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and President Asif Ali Zardari met on January 14 to discuss the "current security situation" amidst escalating civil-military tensions.
Zardari's office welcomed the meeting with Kayani and said it would help civil-military relations. The Pakistan People's Party's Information Secretary, Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the meeting was not routine, "given Pakistan's situation (and) the heat that is being felt." Kayani had earlier had a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Gilani over the matter. President Zardari later met the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Khalid Shameem Wynne and according to reports focused on finding a way out of the impasse. Local media reports have also stated that Saudi Arabia had intervened to ease the ongoing tensions.
Meanwhile, at the hearing of a petition filed against a possible removal of the Army and ISI Chiefs, the government clarified that it had no intention of sacking them.
Source(S): Dawn, January 14-19, 2012; Global Post, January 18, 2012.
Advanced simulators for F-16 training
L-3 Link Simulation & Training in Arlington, Texas USA has said that it had been awarded a contract from the US Air Force to upgrade two Pakistan Air Force F-16C Block 52 aircrew training simulators with the company's new SimuSphere HD-9 visual display.
This is the first contract to install the SimuSphere HD-9 on training devices for a foreign nation. It would provide Pakistani F-16 pilots with an increased level of tactical training. High-definition databases, image generators and the SimuSphere HD-9 visual display will combine to create a highly realistic training environment over a geo-specific visual database of Pakistan. The two F-16C Block 52 simulators are scheduled for delivery in 2013 and will be installed and networked at the Shahbaz Air Base.
Source(s): Star Telegram, January 19, 2012.
Aviation contingent heads to Congo
The first Pakistan Aviation-1 contingent comprising of three Puma helicopters arrived at Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo on December 31, 2011.
The helicopters initially arrived in Entebbe, Uganda and after necessary fitments and test flights flew to the South Kivu Brigade (SKB) Area. The remaining contingent is expected to arrive within this month. The Puma helicopters would help in providing better assistance to the UN staff in carrying out their tasks.
Source(s): ISPR, January 18, 2012.
T-37 aircraft crashes in Turkey
A Pakistan Air Force T-37 aircraft crashed during a training mission in the sea near the Azmeer Airbase in Turkey on January 16. The Squadron leader Masood Hussain had taken the plane from Azmeer Airbase to train a Turkish trainee pilot when it crashed into the sea. The reasons for the crash are unclear, rescue and recovery operations were underway. The pilot and his instructor are still missing.
Source(s): The News International, January 18, 2012.
Meetings and Visits
The Special Representative of Japan for the Af-Pak region, Tadamichi Yamamoto, met General Khalid Shameem Wynne, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) and discussed matters of mutual interest on January 16. The CJCSC was met by the Ambassador of China, Liu Jian on January 18.
The Ambassador of France, Philippe Thiebaud met the Army Chief, General Kayani at the General Headquarters on January 18. The French Ambassador also met the CJCSC and discussed matters related to mutual cooperation.
Source(s): ISPR, January 16-18, 2012.
Acronyms: Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR)
This military monitor was prepared by Astik Sinha at Observer Research Foundation.
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