in september 2003, kayani's promotion to three-star assignment was approved by the president musharraf and subsequently elevating him to three-star rank, lieutenant-general. the same year, he was appointed as the field operational commander of the x corps in rawalpindi. the promotion indicated musharraf's significant trust in kayani, since chief of army staff cannot build a military coup without the help of the x corps commander. kayani led the x corps until october 2004, when he was transferred to the "isi" as its director-general.