ISLAMABAD, Nov 29: Gen Raheel Sharif took over on Friday as the 15th Chief of Army Staff, succeeding Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, whose six-year tenure was marked by fight against terrorism and first transition from a democratically-elected government to another.

Gen Sharif, 57, an infantry officer, will have a term of three years. He was handed over the baton at a ceremony at the Army Hockey Stadium next to General Headquarters by Gen Kayani.Though the more senior general Gen Rashad Mehmood was made the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee during the transition in the military, the real power lies in the influential office of chief of army staff.

Hallmark of Gen Kayani’s tenure, which included a three-year extension, was the restoration of the morale of troops, more focused counter-terrorism strategy, and continuation of democracy despite challenges in civil-military relations.

Speaking at the change of command ceremony, the outgoing army chief said he was leaving the army in the best possible shape.

“Today I can proudly say that the army is ready to deal with both internal and external threats,” he said.

Six years ago Gen Musharraf, while handing over reins to Gen Kayani, too had said that the army had “never been as strong as it is now in the whole history of the country”. But comparing the current state of his forces with conditions under which he had assumed the command, Gen Kayani said: “When I took over the command (in Nov 2007) there were a number of challenges and the army needed to use all its professional capabilities in a focused manner to deal with them.”

He said his actions as the commander of the world’s 7th largest army were dictated by national interest and the interest of the institution.

Gen Kayani oversaw successful operations in Swat and tribal agencies and had been very vocal over the past couple of years about sternly dealing with terrorists.

When the PML-N government, after coming into power, made efforts to initiate dialogue with Taliban, Gen Kayani expressed his reservations, but didn’t block civilian leaders’ initiative.

He reiterated his strong stance against militancy in his farewell address and said that terrorism had caused irretrievable loss to the country.

Gen Kayani also chose the occasion to respond to the martyrdom controversy kicked up by Jamaat-i-Islami Chief Munawar Hassan, but without making a direct reference to the matter.

He said it were because of army’s sacrifices that peace was established in the country’s most difficult area.

“I want to pay tribute to those martyred on this righteous path (fighting terrorists). They are not only the benefactors of the army, but also that of the entire nation and their names would be written in golden letters in the history.”

He maintained that army’s sacrifices during past few years were unparalleled in the country’s history and said that “army has been keeping the beacon of freedom alight with its blood”.

Gen Kayani said he also wanted to salute thousands of civilian martyrs, including women and children, who “sacrificed their lives alongside the army” in the fight against terrorists.

Some 3,500 soldiers have been killed in the war against terrorism, while the casualty figure of civilians runs into tens of thousands.

In his parting words, Gen Kayani said he was confidant that the nation strongly stood behind the army in difficult times.

“What could have been a bigger proof … than the fact that your countrymen always called for your help in hard times and they were never disappointed. Your presence is a source of solace for them,” he said in comments directed towards the army.

While thanking the nation for its support, he called for rising above linguistic, ethnic and sectarian biases and contributing positively towards national development.