Anti-military propaganda, political expediency and pitfalls

Seeing the pro-Pakistan sentiment on this 75^th Independence Day, expressed by general public over the country, one is not very sure if this enthusiasm is shared with the same intensity by our political elite. PTI held a mammoth rally in Lahore, ripping the Astro-turf from the National Hockey Stadium, with eyes on the ultimate power. The Party meekly defended its ‘anti-neutral’ rhetoric, feebly expressing solidarity with the Armed Forces. PDM/other parties are not worthy of mention.

It is ironic to see that whipping up own Military has become fashionable with politicians of all shades, PTI apparently in the lead. Imran Khan’s frequent and unwarranted reference to the ‘neutrals’ is most unfortunate and least expected from a centrist party like PTI. It does not happen even in the most matured democracies. His lieutenant, Shahbaz Gill, is accused of ‘sedition’ not without reason. PTI youth brigade is one of the largest and pronounced groups fanning anti-military propaganda on social media, mostly unwittingly but certainly with intention too. While the leadership aids and abets such onslaught, anti-Pakistan forces multiply its proliferation and enhance its effectiveness.

Ironically, PTI knows the support rendered to it by the Military especially its veterans during crucial times throughout the current crisis, in restraining tougher actions against its rank and file. This is besides the unprecedented support that PTI received in coming to power, forming the government and weathering many storms of its own making all along.

In continued insinuations against the institution, IK misreads the Military’s pulse, which is not just a handful of senior officers at top positions. It encompasses the whole chain, comprising almost a million patriotic Pakistanis from the junior-most enlisted person to the topmost officer in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Para Military Forces and even Police Force. And Military also includes around two million retirees of all ranks, whose hearts beat with Pakistan and their Military. Combine with this, their families and extended families and you would have a feel of Military’s societal pervasiveness. General officers are the guiding force in this mammoth machine, and any direct or indirect effort to drive a wedge between commanders — past and present — and the command is sinister, short-sighted and outright unpatriotic. So, instead of politically expedient oblique reference to vague people like ‘neutrals’, IK should have the courage to name names.

For consumption of PTI and others so fond of military-bashing; this very influential body of servicemen has loyalty to Islam (or their faith), Pakistan and the Military in this order. Years ago, in a diplomatic function in Islamabad during the days when Gen Kiani, the then COAS, had prevailed upon the Lawyers Movement/political parties (2009) to stop their long-march on Islamabad for restoration of judges, Tehmina Daulatana, the PML-N legislator, made a remark that for the first time Military had played its due/positive role. To this, I responded that Military always intercedes with positive intentions, however, results sometimes are not as expected. And that Pakistan has a unique machine whose intake is Punjabi, Pukhtun, Sindhi, Baloch and Muhajir, etc; and the product that comes out is ‘Pakistani’. And that machine is Pakistan’s military academies. Therefore, PTI and/or nobody else should harbour any misguided illusions.

Secondly, despite the anti-military tirade, the general public still loves their Military. Have a poll today to gauge the sentiment and you would see Military’s high approval rating. Trends on this and that social media platform don’t reflect reality. Armed with a smartphone, any bored youth for whatever reasons can say things under influence, that he/she might regret later. Military is not Gen Bajwa alone. Military-public affinity is stronger than Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc. Recruitment for soldiers and officers is still over-subscribed manifolds. The common people still see their Military as bulwark for rescue, relief and rehabilitation during earthquakes, floods and other disasters; not to mention other duties of national importance like surveys, aiding civil power in crises, bhall safai/de-silting of canals to ensure water reaches the tail-end, checking power theft, national census, and/or political arbitration, every now and then on invitation and by default.

And to get a complete sense, Military’s detractors should talk to the civilian kids studying in its finest educational system and in the government’s educational institutions that Military has adopted, like in Sindh; or see the glimmer in the eyes of Thar’s mostly non-Muslim dwellers, when Army laid/maintained pipelines deliver clean drinking water to their goths — villages; or when people in far-flung areas see a doctor at their doors-step through the Military’ frequent medical camps, besides excellent treatment through Military’s more visible hospitals; or when they call their loved ones using the communication system, laid and maintained by the Military in the entire Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, etc.

This long list is not complete without mentioning the war on terror and fighting the toughest of all battles… combating and defeating militancy on its own soil, where enemy could be everywhere. Prevailing in this war was/is existential to Pakistan. And Military’s story is also incomplete without mentioning the scores of shuhada — martyrs, the countless who were injured, the many who lost limbs, the numerous widows, and the long lists of orphans, whose near and dear ones died yesterday and continue to die today, to make our tomorrow safe and better.

So, the next time the likes of Shahbaz Gill open their mouths, they would discern to these hard realties; and their leaders would restrain them and not offer meek and gaping defence for their utterances, and PTI youth brigade would take a note. Pardon is not what such people should get away with.

Our dear rank and file in the 3^rd option (PTI) need to be educated on the ‘National Centre of Gravity’. The political leadership should know the dangers of eroding youth-military bondage and creating a public-military chasm. Doing so is to continue playing into the enemy’s hands. Cheap politics sometimes have bigger costs. Any notions of attaining civilian supremacy of the Armed Forced this way, is delusional.

Every politician worth his/her salt has used Military as a stepping stone to rise in politics. Those pseudo analysts, who from safe-havens abroad, contribute their pearls of wisdom on the present civil-military relations would do well to come over to Pakistan and endure some hours of lead-shedding with us.

Enough, the discourse will and should shift.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2022.

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