ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, April 20 (UPI) -- Pakistan is expected to induct seven new generals this year, retiring the generation that rose to prominence during the Afghan war.
Reports in the Pakistani press say President Pervez Musharraf is expected to appoint two full generals and five lieutenant generals this year.
The changes will bring a new cadre of officers who were in junior ranks during the 1979-1989 Afghan war, when United States and Pakistani administrations encouraged Islamic tendencies in the army to combat Russian communism.
After the Afghan war, however, officers with Islamic tendencies were considered a threat to U.S. interests in the region.
The need to promote liberal officers became even more pressing after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks when Musharraf joined the U.S.-led war against terror.
His move annoyed many religious minded officers who had supported Afghanistan's former Taliban rulers.
Some regional experts feared such officers may topple Musharraf because of his close ties to the United States and may attempt to bring in an Islamic government in Pakistan.
The proposed changes in the army will reduce the chances of such an attempt.
