Pakistan to decide on new army chief this month

Pakistan's Information Minister Parvez Rasheed Friday said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will decide on the appointment of the country's new army chief Nov 28, according to Geo News.

Earlier, Pakistan's Army Chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani announced he would retire Nov 29, 2013.

"My tenure ends Nov 29, 2013. On that day I will retire. May the almighty Allah help and guide us all," Kayani had said.

Rasheed also said the government received reports through the media of the Taliban's refusal to hold peace talks.

"We will wait to see if the other side releases a clarification or makes some changes to their resolve," he said.

The minister said peace talks with the Taliban won't be damaged by a drone attack.

"The drone attack cannot cause damage to the dialogue process."

Pakistani Taliban has blamed the government for the death of their chief Hakimullah Mehsud in a US drone attack Nov 1. The Taliban said they would not hold any peace talks with the "puppet government".