Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani made a rare public statement on Wednesday, saying that the Mehran Bank scandal was a 20-year old issue and “if you want to fight with history in this context, it’s your choice to do so. However, establishing institutions require a lot of hard work and the media should be careful ... that their words do not undermine these [institutions].”
Speaking to senior journalists at a farewell reception given in honour of Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman at the Prime Minister House, he said that he will not hold a meeting with any senior US military officer including Gen Mattis before the joint session of Parliament scheduled for March 17. He categorically said only Parliament will decide about the resumption of Nato supplies.
The COAS also said that no further cantonments are going to be established in Balochistan. He said that only the Frontier Constabulary is performing its duties there. He added that about 10,000 young people were recruited into the armed forces from Balochistan who were about to complete their training.
Replying to a question regarding the alleged involvement of intelligence agencies in missing persons cases, he said that institutions are not made easily – adding, however, that they are also not above criticism. Gen Kayani added that one should be careful that while criticising one must not undermine national institutions or organisations.
The COAS also said that only 47 people are missing in Balochistan. He defended the army, saying its activities had helped improve the standard of living for the people of Balochistan. “Even now, there are Baloch who have seen a 10 rupee currency note for the first time in their lives,’ a sombre Kayani told journalists.
Using the US as an example, the COAS said that the American army was not criticised by its people as harshly as the Pakistan Army was criticised by Pakistanis. The US media is careful in reporting events of US casualties in Afghanistan, for example. He said that the ruthless criticism of ISI in Pakistan was far higher than any criticism made on RAW, Mosad or the CIA in India, Israel or USA.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 15th, 2012.
COMMENTS (61)
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10,000 missin in Indian-occupied Kashmir
http://akrockefeller.com/media/missing-persons-of-kashmir/
100,000 killed by Indian army in Kashmir is proof of the brutality of India's military and intelligence agencies. Not forgetting what they did in Punjab during the 1980's, also Assam and the North Eastern states. The allegations against the ISI are miniscule compared to the behaviour of India's not so shining army.
In 1987 India sent its troops to Sri Lanka to crush the LTTE, tamil separists. But it failed miserably. The reason, India did not have an effective intelligence agency as ISI. We Pakistanis are pround of our army and intelligence agencies. But rogue elements cannot be ruled out in such agencies/
What wrong has he said??? I think those who speaks against army all the time have comlexes of their own ... they are wronged in their lives some time or the other and they critcise army to boast thier bravery. Those who are bashed by thier wives at home come on tv and start to vomit their poison against army!!! Pakistan army zinda baad Pakistan Paainda baad!!!
A matured and factual comments by the Chief.I have never witnessed media of other countries bashing their military or intelligence agency the manner Pakistan media does.This indicates that Pakistan media interpretes freedom of expression with no responsibility or accountability.
we donot know the ground realities so please do not say anything like dt against our intelligence agencies , they are already fighting against the whole world ,,
@ Mahesh Patil: what status do U grant to Muslims in Kashmir, Gujrat & all those who are terrorized by RAW after any incident or threat of terrorism.. But U may not be considering them ur citizens. U don't know name of RAW chief, because RAW has never been involved in biggest ever intelligence operations of history by any super power (remember, before it was Russian and now USA in Afghanistan)..so no comparison between RAW & ISI...
The First comment by an Indian Mahesh Patel tells us the fact that how Much Indians are keen in these types of News. Secondly For the first time in my life i had heard that Mosad , CIA and Raw dont abduct and murder people. CIA is notorious for kidnapping and killings around the world and what about Kashmir region where RAW have kidnapped hundreds of people and mass graves have been found. The only point is that there media dont potray them the evil like our media do. Now a recent media campaign have been started that RAW and CIA are better institutes than ISI and i feel ashamed for the fellow Pakistanis who think the same.
Our COAS statement comparing criticism of our spy agency to our enemy ones astonished me. I cant even think to compare our institution such as MI and ISI with the institution of Mossad, Raw bla bla. Its our institution who has to be blamed for all the misfortune occurred to thousands of innocent people killed or still missing in this war on terror. Its their double game that change me ,who ones used to be mad about joining army but still patriotic Pakistani, to the extent that i would like it to be disbanded. It is therefore requested our COAS kiyani that instead of asking to stop criticizing his institution its better if he make it up-to the values of human morality and justice.
We are with the Pak Army......
@Mahesh Patil: yeah try finding about states like assam, nagaland, naxalites, maoists, kashmiris and yes RAW has other law enforcers killing people on its own behalf like the greyhound...first research then speak
The COAS wants to overlook the mistakes of general... but will the people of Pakistan do so?
Completely agree with him
Yeah Mr. kayani we are with u, media creates hype for their own interests and does agenda setting
Too little too late! It's time Pak Army atoned for the sins it committed over the last 60 years.
Wow....what a statement by COAS.....Now you want to conceal history and you think you will be able to do so?...What a joke. Mr. COAS Please take step and punish the culprits WHO HAVE Maligned the image of Intelligence agencies and the Army. they are no other then the General. Punish them yourself and make a new history. Instead of giving lesson on history
To all those who say CIA, RAW Mossad dont abduct its citizens, the only thing there is that media tell what the agencies let them tell..
@Zeta: ok, live in your small world. people have changed now. we don't just allow people to murdur, kill other country men. and i am not liberal for your information. keep your record straight.
@Mirza:
"But again it is a general talking so the judges would not shut him up."
Very well-said !
@ Wasim: How would u define CIA Drone campaign..........killing 10000 of people and saying sorry was a collateral damage. Because of CIA intelligence on WMD US has killed millions in Iraq..............and still u r saying they don’t abduct anyone yes they don’t abduct they massacre ppl like we have seen recently in Afghanistan.....Regarding performance of RAW, please read some Human Rights article on Kashmir .............How many have tortured and killed....but still Indian & US Media always appraise n support their agencies.......Our media criticize Pakistan defense institution that no International media has done that. Please remember our own family members work in these institutions, 10000 of Pakistani soldiers have lost their lives for this country. I request all Pakistanis to stop humiliating their own country and its institutions. My request to the media is we should not follow trends just to get higher rating....show some nationalism.
RAYAN
Pakistan Army Zindabad! Let the liberals bash whoever want, but it isn't gonna change a damn thing. We will always side with the army then some self professed scholars
@Mahesh Patil: If You Were A Kashmiri Muslim In Indian Occupied Kashmir & You Knew Nobody Buried Inside 8000 Unmarked Graves (Recently Discovered), You Would Not Have Had Made Such A Phony Statement.
I would rather have a General rule my country, rather than jailed thugs (aka President & PM) and their family businesses aka political parties. ISI has known to be the best run Intelligence Agency in the world (at least from the NEWS we hear each day). I dont get your comments? why exactly would ISI or Pak army deliberatly abduct someone? are they trying bilogical weapons and using them as test subjects? are they sending them to Mars? or training to make elite mercenaires?
Whatever ISI and Army is doing, im convinced it is for the betterment for Pakistan. All others RAW, MOSAD etc does the same , but their media is not vulgar, negative news on ISI sells, thats why it is employed in such rigourous manner.
@Disco CNN/BBC/IBN havnt said anything against their agencies ? Thats because the CIA RAW MI6 dont go on hatching political conspiracies, they dont go on abducting their own people, killing them and they dont go on creating Jihadi terror groups in the name of "Strategic Depth" all around the world.
Some people cant digest truth it seems.
The COAS may be stung by the negative press but he also has to see the reasons behind it and come clean about it. It is next to useless to tell us that the army and the ISI are 'sacrificing' so much and therefore we should not ask about the embezzled money and the missing persons. Like every institution, Pakistan army has to learn to live within its "ambit and mandate" as stated by the complaining COAS. Instead of complaining, it is time to do soul searching and answer for the past wrongs, which has destroyed so many promising lives.
" “Even now, there are Baloch who have seen a 10 rupee currency note for the first time in their lives," If the Generals in PAK are willing to give up their 600-800 billion budget , hopefully the balochiz will be able to see a 1000 rupee note as well. But will you Mr Kayani ?
ohhhhh... really Mr.COAS you can not make us fool anymore with your rhetorical statement. you can't ditch us more in the name of security and patriotism by comparison yourself with us and india army.
Bloody civilians listen, Boss speaking !
If it was not the armed forces of Pakistan than by now the balouchs, the politicians and the bureaucrats would have made themselves massively rich and would have sold the country. Look at the state of affairs with the political parties every time money is doled out they are at the front of the que or if their party is not in power than they switch parties to stay in power. The father wants the son to take their seats or be the leader of the party. And we the people of Pakistan are silly enough to keep them voting back into power.
Well, its a known fact and documented not by Baloch political activists, but by the reputable Human Rights organization like Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (Blinkered slide in to chaos), Amnesty International report "Denying the Undeniable" and Human Rights Watch recent report "We can torture, kill and keep you for ever" has provided all evidences that Pakistan's ISI, MI including new field intelligence units in Balochistan are abducting, disappearing and killing unarmed political activists with support of non-Baloch Frontier Core and newly formed dozens of Death Squads.
@Mahesh Patil What about 47000 missing Kashmiris. There Indian army is doing the job of RAW. Pls don't give explanation that they are KILLED NOT MISSING..
"Gen Kayani added that one should be careful that while criticising one must not undermine national institutions or organisations."
That is fine, but what about undermining the institution of 'democracy' .... even discussing that undermines the holy cows!
We believe nothing the American/Indian/Israeli media says because we call it "propaganda". For most part this is true. But we're quick to point their way and show how they "support their troops"?
My history might be a bit weak but I don't remember there being any military takeovers in Israel, India or the USA either. Nor are their military budgets swelling and their officers getting properties after properties while the nation is swept away in floods, electricity is a blink-and-you-miss-it affair and basic necessities are everyday moving further and further away from the reach of the commoners.
"Only 47" is the real attitude-check here. 47 missing people is 47 too many.
Had the US army been involved in US politics extra-constitutionally and conducted military operations on its own citizens just like here in the land of pure, it would have been criticized the same way. Any entity that encroaches on others mandate and transgresses its own mandate and on top of that fails completely to deliver an alternate will be criticized, whether in Pak or elsewhere. I know this for a fact, for all US army's atrocities against so many nations but their own, it is despised all over Europe, Middle-east / Asia, Africa, South America and even Canada.
In my opinion, Gan Kayani's argument is fallacious. However, I appreciate his camaraderie and defending his team as a leader even when it is being criticized from all stakeholders of the country.
Ya let the liberal lashing
Talk about stubborness !!!!!
"He said that the ruthless criticism of ISI in Pakistan was far higher than any criticism made on RAW, Mosad or the CIA in India, Israel or USA." Sir! Thats because these countries (India, Israel and USA) are not being ruled by military. Their intelligence chiefs are usually civilians, and they are all accountable to civilians.
@ COAS: the american army is not criticized because it has never toppled an american government, it is SUBSERVIENT to the civilian government
our security institutions have been built on the foundations of corruption, deceit and despotism. the state within the state must realize that a hungry and hurt civilian population would one day deprive them of that state... and that day is fast approaching when our security institutions will find the nation they proclaim to defend will be no more....
'one must not undermine national institutions or organisations.' meaning only some national institutions (read army) have the right to undermine other national institutions (parliament)
Agreed.
Could not agree with Gen. Kayani more. CNN/BBC/Times of India have not once uttered a word against their respective agencies. Pakistani media channels however are always open to foreign influence and show no sense of responsibility.
sure, now put parliament in charge of tough decisions after loosing half of our country in 1971 as well as 1965,1999 selling our military bases and blood. And after parliament makes a decision let difa-e-pakistan council lash on hem like mad dogs. We are so fed up from you Generals.
Gen Kiyani has very decently pointed the wrongs committed by media in demonising the Institutions, while some its well known anchor persons are in competition to show who can criticise more than the other. This attitude of media is down right condemnable and does more harm to the country image than any other act.
Pakistan Zindabad, Pakistan Army Paindabad.
General Kayani said "establishing institutions require a lot of hard work".
Rightly said. It is even much harder work as our generals have been busy undermining these very institutions for the past six decades.
Yes Mr. Kiyani we criticize our army and intelligence because we love you both and it hurts when blunders are committed because of "national interests". No one is stopping you from playing the West but at least Pakistan should get something out of it.
kidnappers all....
He said exactly what he should say. Media should be very careful and responsible in uttering venom against Pak Army and the prestigious organization ISI. We are Pakistanis and we should love our Army. There are many snakes in the media who remain busy in speaking against Islam, Army and ISI. Long live Pakistan Pakistan Zindabad Pak Army Paindabad
I think it would be better to bring the facts to the forefront Gen. Kiyani, that way it would be clear who is working for the national interests of Pakistan and who wants to undermine it. Otherwise anybody can use these circumstances to his/her own advantage.
The general said "saying that the Mehran Bank scandal was a 20-year old issue and “if you want to fight with history in this context, it’s your choice to do so." The case is in the SC of Pakistan and the general is commenting on it in public and defending the ISI and generals. What is contempt of court if this is not? But again it is a general talking so the judges would not shut him up.
Let the liberal bashing begin!
at least RAW, CIA and mossad don't abduct, murder their own country men. for crying out load give a better example at least. but then what we expect from people who do simple FA/F.SC and then go to army and then become major and general. and one day the head of the state.
I'm outraged at the suggestion that pointing out their criminal practices undermines these organizations, whereas the criminal practices rampant within them do not.
What a Joke. Couldn't have started my day with something better than this.
yes the stituation is 'improved', we can see that Mr COAS. get a life. we are sick and tired of you people abducting our fellow nationals for the sake of 'security' of the country.
Frankly I do not know the name of person who heads RAW.But I am sure RAW does not abduct and torture their citizens.