Bajwa’s speech at Sandhurst and global challenges

The Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, gave a profound speech as chief guest at the recent passing out parade of Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. It was a great honour for his person as well as for Pakistan to be invited on this august occasion and a recognition of his contribution to the war on terror. It was also a testimony of the deep-rooted and historical relationship that exists between the two countries.

General Bajwa’s talk in essence encapsulated the essential elements of achieving global peace through a just and broad-based global order. It obviously had idealistic overtones but on events like these motivating cadets who are being launched in a real world stretching their dreams and ambitions in their new careers is a must. But that was not all, his speech focusing on supremacy of international law and its fidelity must have Kashmir and Palestine in mind. There cannot be a more glaring example of prejudices and biased priorities of major powers as in respect of these issues. So was the General’s reference to collective defence a way of preventing or finding solutions to intractable conflicts as between the two South Asian neighbours or between Russia and Ukraine and the growing US-China tensions. The present world order has failed to address these conflicts, in fact is accentuating them. And it is becoming clear that the world has to continue living with the harsh reality that might’s right. Multilateral institutions have been flouting the fundamental principle of remaining neutral and tilting in favour of issues that are backed by major powers. But as the Chief observed by not adhering to these basic norms we would be “destroying the world”.

With a fairly large representation of cadets from Commonwealth and other countries besides their own the message delivered on these occasions is generally of a global nature and not restricted to the audience alone. In this Gen Bajwa’s emphasis that the “primary reason for the existence of armed forces should not be to prosecute wars but to ensure that they do not take place” was very apt. He dwelt on the influence of high tech in modern warfare and battlefield of the future “characterized by extreme precision, lethality and transparency” that would pose a huge challenge especially to young officers in peace and war.

In fact, keeping pace with rapid technological advances in the field of defence or for civilian purposes is possible provided the country has a sound educational, industrial and technological infrastructure in the civil and defence sectors. India and China, in particular, have made great strides in the indigenous development of major weapon systems. Pakistan too can take pride in some areas, despite its relatively smaller technological and industrial base. It has strengthened its conventional and strategic capability that has deterred India from adventurism.

What is critical is that a balance between expenditure on defence and development should be maintained. Galloping inflation, compounded by the adverse fallout of Covid and Russian-Ukraine conflict, has resulted in harsher financial conditions, worsening our debt burden. A more stringent assessment of civil and military expenditure has become imperative in view of the dire economic situation. Frequent bailouts through loans from IMF, support from World Bank and other institutions have compromised Pakistan’s sovereignty. Besides, there is not much to spare for human development that would involve expanding and strengthening health, educational facilities and physical infrastructure. Equally of concern is that there is hardly any sensitivity to overcome this weakness on our own, apart from loosely conforming to the IMF dictates — not realising that an educated, healthy and self-reliant polity is the best guarantee for defence and economic development.

With Britain we have a unique relationship as the Chief alluded “based on mutual respect and shared values”. We, however, cannot ignore the reality that we are far from imbibing the spirit and centrality of democracy which provides the resilience and anchor to the British society. In this the army leadership will have to completely pull itself from governance or interference apart from giving advice when solicited. Our political parties have a lot to learn from how British and Western democracy function. The significance of parliament, respect and adherence to the rule of law are areas that should interest our politicians.

The present and past governments too have involved parliament only in a perfunctory manner.

Western and even leaders of socialist countries, China in particular, are far more sensitive to the reaction and responses of the electorate. Recent demonstration of this was so evident as President Emmanuel Macron had to adjust his policies when the electorate appeared dissatisfied. More glaring was the resignation of the British PM after his own party members rebelled against his personal conduct, although only three years ago he led the Conservatives to their biggest victory since 1987.

Politicians being answerable to the people, a certain degree of restraint in conducting affairs in parliament or voicing opposition in public is necessary. The example of former President Donald Trump facing legal charges and a large cross-section of people deploring his behaviour for trampling democratic system is another case of how democracies do self- correction. This is not to say these countries do not have their weaknesses as the Republican party or his staunch followers are demonstrating by condoning and supporting Trump passionately for the wrong reasons.

China’s domestic politics and foreign policy too have undergone significant changes under President XI Jinping. He has tightened his grip and his authority extends in all major policy domains. The tradition of democratic centralism has been superseded by the ruling or judgement of one authority. There was a time a few years back when it seems that China would move toward greater freedom and democratic ethos, but that does not seem to be the case, at least in the near future. However, one cannot but admire the phenomenal progress China has made economically and strategically, lifting majority of its people from poverty to affluence.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2022.

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