NYT : Musharraf Shores Up Base, Naming Intelligence Chief

Musharraf Shores Up Base, Naming Intelligence Chief

By CARLOTTA GALL | September 22, 2007

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Sept. 21 — Pakistan’s president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, promoted a close ally to the important post of intelligence chief on Friday, shoring up his power base as he prepares to run for another term as president and possibly to resign from his position as army chief in the coming weeks.

Nadeem Taj was appointed director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence, Pakistan’s main intelligence agency. He was one of six major generals promoted to lieutenant general. Two more appointments, to the senior positions of vice chief of army staff and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are expected in coming days.

The appointment of General Taj is being received here as a clear indication that General Musharraf is moving to ensure that his allies hold the positions of power when and if he relinquishes his post of chief of army staff. General Taj most recently was the chief of military intelligence and is seen as one of General Musharraf’s most trusted allies.

Maj. Gen. Mohsin Kamal was installed as commander of the 10th Army Corps, considered one of the most important positions in the army because it commands troops based just south of the capital, Islamabad, near army headquarters in Rawalpindi.

The promotions of General Taj and General Kamal appear to open the way for the current intelligence chief, Lt. Gen. Ashfaq Kiyani, and the 10th Army Corps commander, Lt. Gen. Tariq Majeed, to move into the top two posts in the army when the current holders retire Oct. 7.

General Musharraf, 64, has said he will resign his military post if elected to another term as president in balloting by the national and provincial assemblies on Oct. 6. If he does, the vice chief of army staff would be expected to become the chief of army staff.

Since mounting a military coup in 1999, General Musharraf has derived much of his power from his command of the army and has continued to conduct much of his work as president in uniform from Army House in Rawalpindi. His power is expected to diminish if he becomes a civilian president.