Musharraf deputy, a reluctant linchpin

Musharraf's anointed successor in the army is Kayani, the universally well-regarded, pro-Western general who once ran the country's most powerful spy agency.Kayani is close not just to Musharraf, but also to his political rival, Benazir Bhutto, serving as her deputy military secretary when she was prime minister.Kayani also is friendly with U.S. officials, including Negroponte, largely through the general's former job atop the Inter-Services Intelligence spy agency.
Since his appointment last month as vice chief, Kayani, considered to be extremely loyal to Musharraf, has tried to focus on the war on terror, especially in remote tribal areas, and improve the army's sinking morale, analysts and Western officials said. He has largely ignored politics.Kayani "is a military man," said a Western diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity. "He's very professional. And he's extremely concerned about the low morale -- and it is very low."Those who have worked with Kayani said he is extremely cautious and dismissed reports that he would stage any coup while Musharraf is chief."He doesn't come off as a reckless fellow," said the former top official in Musharraf's government. "He comes off as a cool and collected fellow. He's certainly not a commando."Yet retired army officials and analysts say that despite the many powerful army commanders who run key agencies, everyone would look to Kayani if the top brass were forced to consider a potential takeover."God forbid, if that happens, it would not happen without his consent," said one retired officer who is loyal to Musharraf and requested anonymity.