Pakistan Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has announced that he would retire when his extended tenure ends on November 29.
Gen Kayani's current responsibilities and likely future plans were being debated in the media amidst rumours and speculations that he would try to extend his three-year term for a third time, however, putting them to rest by announcing his retirement.
According to the Daily Times, Gen Kayani said that he had served a great nation and had the privilege of commanding the finest army of the world for six years and now was the time for someone else to take the lead and carry forward the mission of making Pakistan a truly democratic, prosperous and peaceful country.
The report said that politicians speculated that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would appoint Gen Kayani as head of the newly empowered central defence body that will command the entire military establishment, which would mean the (CAOS) was still de facto head of the military.
However, keeping Gen Kayani in a powerful role would give the army again the role of the real decision maker in Pakistan, with the civilian government becoming secondary, the report added.