ISLAMABAD: Army’s top brass is meeting on Wednesday, soon after Gen Raheel Sharif caused a stir with his remarks at a Special Services Group base in Tarbela.

The meeting, which is commonly known as Corps Commanders’ Conference, is a routine monthly affair at the General Headquarters where the commanders get together to discuss “professional matters and issues that are impacting national security”, but this time round the timing is being seen as important.

The army chief left no doubt with his comments at the SSG base that the military, contrary to what was being claimed by the political leadership, was neither comfortable nor on the same page with the government on a number of issues.

Gen Raheel’s comments that the army would “resolutely preserve its own dignity and institutional pride” sent shockwaves in the government circles.

It is said that the comments were made in the context of army’s concern over the trial of former military ruler retired Gen Pervez Musharraf on the charge of high treason.

But insiders insist that the army is neither at peace nor happy with the way the government is proceeding with its initiative of holding peace talks with militants involved in the killing of tens of thousands of countrymen.

Sources aware of Wednesday’s agenda said differences with the government were not on the formal list of items, but they were expecting an intense in-house discussion on the matter.

“It will be wrong to say that the matter will not be discussed; yes it is likely to dominate the proceedings,” an officer said.

While the general expectation is that rift will not be allowed to widen and both sides are already taking steps to avoid a face-off, but still the army is likely to keep some measure of pressure on the government.

“It is a very important matter that is related to institutional morale,” a defence analyst commented.