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The people and their armed forces
It is time to return the ownership of foreign policy and security matters to the people and their representatives.
General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani has been “feeling the heat” in his job because of rising anger and discontentment among the military’s rank and file.
Reports in the foreign press have suggested, quoting unnamed American officials, that army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani has been “feeling the heat” in his job because of rising anger and discontentment among the military’s rank and file, following the May 2 raid by US Navy SEALs which led to the killing of Osama bin Laden in a compound in the garrison town of Abbottabad (the incident raises legitimate questions which need answers).
These reports also follow what many considered to be an unprecedented public statement by the military, following the most recent corps commanders’ conference. However, as has already been said on these pages, the response left a lot to be desired.
For instance, the only admission of mistake — which seemed to have been forced by parliament following a tense in-camera briefing — has come when the director-general of the ISI offered to resign. However, when it came to questions on how US helicopters could fly from our western border all the way to a city an hour’s drive from Islamabad, the explanations given by the air force were less than satisfactory.
This was followed by the PNS Mehran attack in which a major naval and air force installation was under attack for almost a day. Instead of admitting that there has been a serious security lapse, the navy chief, albeit in response to a question, suggested that there had been no such lapse. This he said after the terrorists who attacked the base managed to destroy two aircraft worth over $70 million (roughly Rs6 billion). Then, a journalist who had written on the attack and had suggested that it may have been linked to al Qaeda sympathisers in the navy — who had been arrested for these ties and were not being released — was found dead soon after.
Even now, the right questions are not being asked, even by many Pakistanis, especially those sitting in parliament. For instance, apart from the issue of how the Americans penetrated so far inside Pakistan, the equally, if not more, pressing question is: How was Osama bin Laden living in Abbottabad for so many years without anyone noticing the presence of the world’s most wanted terrorist? Many people are questioning the fact that the performance of an organisation that receives over a quarter of the federal budget, and far in excess of what education and health combined receive, has not been satisfactory. But this should not only be seen in light of its relations with America and whether it can stand up to Washington, but also in relation to its past — and some say ongoing — support of militant and extremist outfits. Sending proxy warriors to fight the ‘jihad’ in Kashmir is no longer an option but questions need to be asked — why did the military even engage in such a policy in the first place? Who created the Taliban and who enabled their success in setting up a government in Afghanistan? Who allows the Haqqanis and their allies sanctuaries inside Pakistan, especially given that the cost of having extremists — foreign or homegrown — on our soil has now become known to all of us, since the militants have now chosen to point their guns inward? Who decided that there are some Taliban who are ‘good’ and some who are ‘bad’, given that they all have close links with each other? Did the people of this country, or their elected representatives, have any say in all of this? And please, for once, we would like an honest answer.
In this context, General Kayani reportedly telling his soldiers that dependence on US dole has brought Pakistan to such a pass and that Pakistan does not like interference by the US but also that it cannot go to war with Washington needs to be welcomed as realistic. Let us also remember that US presence in Pakistan is in fact a response to the presence of militants and extremists in the region. The officers’ corps should realise it is now time to return the ownership of foreign policy as well as security matters to the people of Pakistan through their elected representatives.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2011.
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Reader Comments (20)
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Please, after the Shahzad killing, you ought to be more circumspect in writing such opinions, for your own safety sake!Recommend
Army need immediate focus on internal and external threats instead of Dollar war. US media is constantly blaming Pak Army for their failures. We have to get rid of this so called War on Terror which has other secret agenda. If we still expect something positive from US then this will be our mistake. I am sure Pakistan Army is looking for ways to get out of this nonsense.Recommend
Kayani should remain under pressure. He has lorded over the ISI in the earlier part of his career and has wangled two extensions in his present position. To say that he is not aware of the ISI shenanigans is tantamount to questioning the intelligence of a clever man. No human being is indispensable and this applies as much to Kayani as it does to Shuja Pasha or, for that matter, anybody else. If Pasha offered to resign his gesture should not be rebuffed. For a failure of the magnitude of Abbottabad he should be let go.
The Pakistani military establishment should forego its role not only in running foreign policy but also its de facto superiority over the civil leadership if it wants to leave behind Pakistan’s image as a Banana Republic. The military – through its stupid adventure in Kargil – has dealt a serious blow to the thaw in the Indo-Pak relations. If any more military coups are conducted in Pakistan it will only hasten its collapse. The coup makers, the self-annointed guardians of foreign policy, and the trouble-makers in domestic politics have to be neutred if Pakistan is to be saved. Recommend
What a silly article.
Everyone knows that ever since General Kyani & General Pasha has resisted dictates of United States “all hell has loose”
Just like the destruction of ZAB in 1977 the target is now ISI & Pakistan Army.
Howcome, all this talk of civilian supremacy was never mentioned for 40 years as long as the Pakistan Army followed the U.S plans thru Zia & Musharraf.
The U.S plan of using politicians,Media & of course force (Abbotabad Operation)is a well planned to strategy to make Yugosalvia of Pakistan.
In the time of war no sane nation abuses its armed forces.Leading U.S papers like New York times,Washington Times did not allow any news of Raymond Davis being a CIA agent.What is our media doing?
CIA agents in Pakistan are as much threat to Pakistan as extremists of TTP.Dont play the CIA GAME!!!Recommend
Which elected reps are you talking about. Did you evuen have a single drop of patriotism left before you started writing this article.You suggest handing the sestitive matters to these so called elected morons who always play politics on national issues to come/stay in power… The situation is getting a lot more threatening n tensed then meets the eye thanks to US presence in Pakistan. I totally agree with Mr. Changez K that all this is being done to destabilize n defame our security forces. We only have two good institutions left in our country n don’t want to see them get abused by our political regime. If you really want this to happen, wait until we have honest people sitting in house …Recommend
Pakistan needs to breakfree from the US aid, declare bankruptcy, restructure its loans and bond payments and reorganize its institutions. The country needs bright, young, new leadership ready to take bold decisions. Lets just preserve what we have first, settle Kashmir peacefully. This country needs RESPECT!Recommend
@ Chengez – yeah because Zia and Mushurraf were so good for Pakistan! There is no CIA game. Stop the delusion and conspiracy theories. When will you stop blaming CIA/Mossad/RAW and “foreign elements” for all your problems. Grow up and take blame when its due. The Pakistani military is rotten to the core.
Pakistan must clean house. That’s it. End of story. Recommend
Lots of sensible questions in this article. Pakistani public deserve honest, straightforward answers. Who will give that?Recommend
When the poor peasants of Vietnam and Afghanistan defeat 3 superpowers during the last 40 years why cant the nuclear armed forces retaliate. Because we don’t have leadership or courage. Pure and simple.Recommend
“Pakistan does not like interference by the US but also that it cannot go to war with Washington needs to be welcomed as realistic”
Nothing but cowardice.Recommend
The editorial is right on!
Only courage and sacrifice will bell this monstrous cat that seeks to emasculate all that is civil about Islam and Pakistan. Recommend
@Chengez K: You wrote:
“Just like the destruction of ZAB in 1977 the target is now ISI & Pakistan Army.”
ZAB was murdered by army generals and not the USA. It was a whole cabinet of genrals led by Zia. The reason politicians and bloody civilians did not rise against the army was by hanging the first elected PM ZAB, the army had proved that they can do anything to anybody no matter how powerful or popular he is. Still hundreds of people were flogged by the army tryrants and put in jails. Many went to exile and could not live in Pakistan. All those atrocities were done at a time when the army had gone through the worst defeat and surrender in human history. People are no matach against more than half a million army which has proven to invaded every province of Pakistan except Punjab.
If they were not caught in bed with OBL in a military base they would still be lying to public. However, they cannot lie to their masters, and would not dare contradict anything regarding OBL’s residence. Military needs more touts and bigger voice to supress all the free judiciary, media and parliment. Recommend
This is America and it can even put the most powerful person of Pakistan under pressure whereas Pakistan can do nothing but to criticise US which US has no concern at all.Recommend
This is an excellent editorial but should not these questions have been asked a lot earlier. Only now that the Military is on the back foot these questions are being asked. The journalists have been cowards for years, anyway better late than never. From the comments posted it seems that many agree with the Jihadi adventures and hobnobbing of Military with assorted terrorist groups, of course in national interest(whose). As long as the terrorists focus on neighbours everything is fine, even if Pakistani citizens continue to pay the highest toll for the misadventures. An Army that is blind to all realities and steeped in a stubborn misguided religious fervour of self righteousness, is a serious liability for any country. A Nuclear armed country can least afford games of brinkmanship like the Kargill adventure that started and ended with Lies. Now the World can see that the Emperor is not wearing any clothes but humility is missing. Not one word of apology for the many hundreds of misdeeds since 1947. Days of brain washing and hood winking have passed. Now is the time to start doing the job they are paid for, protecting the citizens – not from aliens descending from Mars, but from the butchers roaming the streets including those in the garb of Holy warriors. Recommend
Who gives money, weapon and training to these so called Pakistani Taliban? Why all the Baloch terrorists live so comfortably in US ? Why US drones donot target Pakistani TALIBAN? But these foreign paid mercenaries coduct pyshological warfare on us and obsfuscate the reality.It is easy to see that the editorial is perhaps written to please the American paymasters. Recommend
“US presence in Pakistan is in fact a response to the presence of militants and extremists in the region”
Worth repeating, And many of those militants have been nurtured and protected by the Pakistan military.Recommend
@ asap – again, more delusion. More conspiracy theories. Where is your evidence of Baloch terrorists living in the US? Where is your evidence that the US doesn’t target all terrorists? They just killed Kashmiri. He was against Pakistan. They did Pakistan a huge favor.
You can also do Pakistan a huge favor and stop believing in stupid conspiracy theories and focus on ridding Pakistan of terrorists and their sympathizers. Recommend
Guess what Anglo Indians were involved in PNS meharan Attack, isn’t that awesome.Recommend
@Feroz:
I think the remarks on Pakistan journalists are uncharitable. I read your online English dailies regularly and I am convinced that this is the only institution that can bring back the country from the brink. I see a rare sense of purpose and courage in the reportage and edits/ columns, It is never too late to raise the voice against injustice. May the tribe of Saleem Shahzad, Amir Mir and Kamran Shafi grow. Recommend
The people and their armed forces. What a change that would be!
So far it has been the armed forces and its – not their, people. Recommend