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| Pakistan for Indian set-up of administration in Army | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Feb 10
Pakistan has planned to set up Army Commands on India's pattern to further streamline the administration in its largest military force, a step that would also help it ''retain'' the superannuating commanders for some more years, sources said.
''Creation of three Army Commands, like that in India, is being considered by Pakistan to enhance its operational effectiveness and deal with internal political and security challenges,'' the sources told
Setting up of Commands would be a significant move for Pakistan, which is facing security as well as political upheavels.
''Division of labour (having more governing bodies for delegation of orders) always yields better results,'' the sources said.
Pakistan will bring its various Army Corps under either of the proposed -- Northern Command, Central Command and Southern Command-- the sources added.
It has been proposed to bring the Mangla-headquartered I Corps (also known as Army Reserve North), IV Corps (Lahore) and XXX Corps (Gujaranwala) under the Central Command, while Multan-based II Corps, Karachi-headquartered V Corps and XII Corps from Quetta (Baluchistan) will come under the responsibility of Southern Command, the sources said.
Similarly, Rawalpindi-based X Corps, XI Corps, headquartered at Peshawar in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and areas above river Chenab, will come under the responsibility of the proposed Northern Command, the sources said.
''However, the exact area of responsibility in the Command zone is yet not clear,'' the sources asserted. The proposal, once accomplished, would also help Pakistan retain the services of General officers for longer period as the age of superannuation would increase in case of an Army Commander. ''The move will also help President Musharraf please his faithful commander and nip the budding dissent in Army,'' they quipped.
Besides the creation of Army Commands, the sources said, ''Pakistan is also considering the creation of a permanent post of the Vice-Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) to make the system run more efficiently.'' The sources, however, said the proposal, which has nearly taken shape, awaits approval of the Pakistan President.
At present, Pakistan Army -- the largest branch of world's seventh biggest military -- has ten Corps, comprising the recently raised Army Strategic Force Command (ASFC), which is challenged with the responsibility of bearing the country's strategic and nuclear assets.
Each Army Corps in Pakistan is commanded by an officer of Lieutenant General rank. But unlike India, the Corps commanders in Pakistan are answerable to the Army Headquarters at Rawalpindi (near Islamabad), headed by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS). The three-star Principal Staff Officers in Army HQs, supervising their respective areas of responsibilities, assist the COAS in his duties. |
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