General Kayani's decision not to open another front in North Waziristan against the militants for at least one more year, despite United States' pressure on the Pakistan army, is quite understandable. While the army consolidates its gains in Swat and South Waziristan, it simultaneously battles the fleeing militants in other FATA agencies. Any new offensive would create an operational imbalance, which the army can ill afford at this stage, thus foiling the US/NATO trap. After all, why would Pakistan compromise its long-term interests for the sake of anybody's short-term interests? The army's fourfold strategy in FATA aims to 'clear', 'hold', 'secure' and 'transfer' the regained areas to the civilian control. Swat's recent successful by-election sets the pattern for similar strategy in South Waziristan and other affected FATA regions. At a recent Congressional Hearing, US Admiral Mike Mullen acknowledged: "The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan showed itself to be a bold and audacious enemy of the Pakistani people, ruthlessly seizing control of Swat in late spring last year. Nine Pakistani military operations against Taliban that began last March have reversed their territorial gains." During a rare interaction with the media recently, General Kayani highlighted the sacrifices of the Pakistan army in this war. One officer for every 10 jawans shows that officers led from the front and belied the US allegations that Pakistan Army had not done enough in the war against terror. Certainly, the army's comprehensive strategy to fight militancy clearly outshone US/NATO efforts in Afghanistan. Whereas our political leadership lacks courage to look at India into the eyes, General Kayani does not mince words by stating that "the Indian 'Cold Start' strategy is aggressive in design." In this context, expecting Pakistan army to undertake a paradigm shift from being eastern border centric, especially when Kashmir remains unresolved and the Indians seem hell bent on strangulating our rivers, is asking for the impossible. Thanks to Pakistan's military diplomacy which convinced the visiting US/NATO/UK's political and military leadership that increasing Indian presence in Afghanistan was counterproductive to bringing stability and Indian efforts to misuse the Afghan soil to destabilise Pakistan would only serve to heighten Indo-Pak tensions. The fact that the international community has finally recognised Pakistan's key role in facilitating the Afghan peace process, serves as a feather in the military leadership's cap. Recent reports of visit of the Indian intelligence chief to Kabul in connection with training of Afghan National Army (ANA) and police indicates that India still desires to strengthen its foothold in Afghanistan. At a Pentagon press briefing on January 26, 2009, Geoff Morrell also discounted India's role in training the Afghan security forces. Nevertheless, General Kayani's offer to train ANA officers and soldiers in Pakistani military institutions should be supported by the international community. The general said: "If Afghanistan is peaceful, stable and friendly, we have our strategic depth because our western border is secure." Moreover, why the sudden outburst by a senior Sindhi politician calling for the army in Karachi? Why should the army be embroiled in a dirty situation which has been messed up by vested political and mafia interests? Are the rangers/police not capable enough to deal effectively with it? Not surprisingly, the Sindh coalition partners seem to be pulling the rug beneath each other to tighten their control over Karachi. Beware The army must not get lured into the Karachi quagmire. While good military leadership and training at all levels contributed significantly towards the army's achievements in FATA, yet high morale and commitment to this just national cause remain the ultimate battle winning factor. Whereas General Musharraf accorded routine importance to the soldier's welfare, General Kayani dedicated 2008 as the 'Year of the soldier' with the objective to improve the soldier's standard and quality of life in tangible terms. Implementing a wholesome concept, the army's 10 billion rupees programme resulted in the construction and renovation of houses for the soldiers and their families in all garrisons, provision of boarding and lodging facilities to their children to facilitate better education at par with the officers' children, enhanced ration scales to impact the quality of a soldier's diet and the special uniform allowance to get officer standard uniform cloth. The special compensation for the Shaheeds' families and the disabled in the ongoing War on Terror are unique in their own respect. With plans for the new multi-billion rupees GHQ project in Islamabad on the backburner with non-productive activities like meena bazaars, a culture of the past with the renewed focus on hardcore professionalism and austerity, the army's new mindset gears it to face multiple challenges confronting the nation. Tailpiece: With this year's 23rd March Joint Services Parade being reportedly cancelled due to obvious security reasons, will the dust come off the Presidential Buggy? The writer is a retired brigadier Email: fhkhan54@gmail.com