KARACHI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir has personally dismissed speculation about changes in the presidency and premier ship as the work of elements conspiring against the ruling setup, in remarks quoted on Saturday by a local newspaper.

Field Marshal Munir had stopped over in Brussels on his return from last week`s visit to the United States and spoken to Suhail Warraich, senior editor for the Daily Jang newspaper, on the matter, according to Dawn.com.

`The talk started with politics, especially on rumours that there is some effort to change the president of Pakistan as well as the prime minister.

Field Marshal Munir clearly said, during both the Brussels gathering and in his two-hour discussion with me, that the rumours about a change were completely false, the column said.

`When informed that this `news` had been circulated by both civil and military agencies, he [Field Marshal Munir] said this could not be possible. `In fact, there are elements behind this who oppose both the government and the authorities and wish to create political anarchy,`` the army chief was quoted as saying.

Last month, speculation was rampant that President Asif Ali Zardari may soon step down, potentially paving the way for the army chief to assume the country`s presidency. The reports on social media had claimed that work was underway to replace the current parliamentary system with a presidential form of government. Some reports had also claimed that President Zardari had set one condition for his exit a key role for his son Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in the new dispensation.

The rumours were summarily addressed and rubbished by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi twice and by military spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry as `nonsense`.

Field Marshal Munir was also reported as saying on stage at the Brussels gathering that: `God has made me protector of the country. I do not desire any position other than that.

The army chief praised the prime minister and his 18-hour work streak, the federal cabinet and the government, especially their `determination and courage` during the Mayconflict with India.

Political reconciliation `On a question about politics, he [the army chief] said that political reconciliation is possible only if there is a sincere apology,` the column read.

Although it does not specify who the army chief was referring to or who the question was about, it can be inferred that he may have been referring to the PTIanditsincarceratedleader.

Balancing act On foreign relations, the army chief was said to have expressed confidence in maintaining equilibrium between the US and China. `We will not sacrifice one friend for the other,` he was quoted as saying.

The army chief also described Trump`s efforts for peace as `genuine`, andsaidPakistanhadtakentheleadin nominating him for Nobel Peace Prize, which was followed by other nations.

The column said the army chief had warned India against destabilising Pakistan`s peace through the use of `proxies`, and also cautioned Kabul against `pushing the Taliban into Pakistan`, or it would be met with a response. He said we have shown kindness and favours to Afghans for years, but instead of repaying them, a plot is being hatched against us in collaboration with India,` it read.