ISLAMABAD:
One can only assume that the apparently frosty relations between the government and the military have started thawing.
In a telling move on Friday, the military brass, including Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, attended a ceremony in the Presidency where President Asif Ali Zardari conferred the award of Nishan-i-Imtiaz (military) on Naval Chief Admiral Mohammad Asif Sandila.
The government is at odds with the military over the Memogate scandal as the army chief claims the controversial memo is a reality while the government calls it a myth.
Currently, a high-powered judicial commission is investigating the matter and the man who set off the controversy, Mansoor Ijaz, is likely to appear before it sometime this month.
Analysts believe that holding Admiral Sandila’s decoration ceremony at the Presidency was a calculated move and was used by the government to send out a message that there was no confrontation or friction between the military establishment and the government.
Insiders in the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) also claimed that the presence of army chief General Kayani, who had recently skipped several similar functions, was a proof that backchannel efforts to normalise working relations between the government and the military had started bearing fruit.
(Read: That fractured relationship)
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2012.
COMMENTS (11)
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@Mirza That is not true. Pakistan has a very tough criteria to award a medal. And not all medals are awarded for bravery. There are medals to commorate special occasions which are awarded to soldiers and officers if they are in service during that event (like Kargil war) even if they did not fight actively.
US military gets medals faster than any other military in the world. A soldier having spent 10 years would have half of chest covered with medal ribbons. The joke is who ever in US military saw movies like "guns of navarone" or "bridge on the river Kawai" got a medal.
Look and compare the medals on chest of a USA general with same service as Kiyani and you will know what I am talking about.
Pakistani generals are more decorated than the generals in any other country. Perhaps they have been most brave in the world and won most wars? How long this third world country can carry this much dead wood before collapsing under?
Salute to Tribune and like-minded newspapers for making a story of nothing! In Urdu, it's called "raai ka pahaar". It was a simple routine affair and the Services Chiefs and Chaiman JCSC were bound by the norms of duty to attend the ceremony. How does it reflect on "ice is melting"-like assertions and how does it become "a telling move"! As far as PPP "Insiders" are concerned, a few of the "Jiyalas" have been recruited merely for this purpose-to leak insiders news for sensationalism, which is an all-weather diet for media!
Kiyani is still registering his protest. He is attending the ceremony without wearing his ceremonial dress.
Vienna,Jamuary 21,2012 Good sign or bad? Is the question. Engagement is the answer. Between the civil administration and the military establishment. May be unequal.But there are external factors to balance or tip to one side.Watch out for the result. Taravadu Taranga Trust for Media Monitoring India --Kulamarva Balakrishna
@Sindhvoice: can't be that bitter,I thing from sindh,somebody is taking cover behind this name to spread hatred,now we alive mr voice
Sense and sensibility will prevail, hopefully. Until the PPP again starts off with the left foot.
Salams to Pakistan
who they are saluting, President our each other?
We should not forget to thank KSA which played a huge part in this recent-friendly measures by Army. I have many disagreements with them but credit should be given where its due.
This is a good omen.
The political leadership with military should work hand in hand so that institutions should be strengthened in the country.
Pakistan is facing severe crises in the backdrop of memo scandal as Mansoor Ejaz is bent upon to topple the government so that US should bring the desired people in the new government of its own choice.
Army is making all out efforts to save the country from political chaos for which the nation is indebted.
It is good move, for stronger, and progressive Pakistan, there should not be confrontation between institutions. But in any sane world, no one give damn care to military top brass. They come and go with time and their duty is security on the borders, not meddling into politics.