Islamabad, Nov 28: Pakistan’s Interior Ministry has said that the retirement of President General Pervez Musharraf as Army Chief would not affect the US-led war on terror.

"Doffing of the uniform will not affect the ongoing war on terror. The elimination of terrorism is our policy objective, which will continue without any problem," Interior Ministry spokesman, Brigadier (retire) Javed Iqbal Cheema, said.

Musharraf on Tuesday bid farewell to his army colleagues, a day before he demits the office of Chief of Army Staff and prepares to take oath for a second consecutive presidential term on Thursday.

Musharraf visited the Joint Staff headquarters in Rawalpindi and the naval and air force headquarters in Islamabad.

He will be replaced by Lt. General Ashfaq Kiyani, who is well regarded by Western counterparts and has also worked with Bhutto after she first become Prime Minister in the late 1980s

Analysts say Musharraf will be able to count on Kiyani's backing as long as huge protests don't erupt, the Daily Times reported.

Meanwhile, the US State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack, welcomed Musharraf's promise to take off his uniform before being sworn in as President as a positive step. (ANI)