This came as a bit of a shock to a country where most people think that the war against terrorism was not Pakistan’s war and that it was America’s war in which Pakistan was playing a self-damaging ancillary role. Most TV anchors reacted angrily, stubbornly clinging to the narrative made current by General Kayani’s own subordinates in the ISI.
The narrative presided over earlier by the Pakistan Army was that America was in Afghanistan seeking a toehold in the region to accomplish its hegemonic ends. It was opposed to Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal and was busy in tandem with India and Israel to plan its elimination. General Kayani once told a gathering of editors that he was wedded to the doctrine of strategic depth in Afghanistan to better confront India in case of conflict.
A series of decisions taken by him tilted the country into dangerous paranoia. Not only is the army openly in exclusive charge of the country’s foreign and security policy, it is clearly the real power in Pakistan behind the facade of democracy. General Kayani is thus the most powerful man in the country, paradoxically enjoying the reputation of an army chief who believes in non-interference in the democratic process.
His decisions were populist rather than realistic. His Independence Day pronouncements were realistic but they also revealed these decisions to be ill-suited to a state in deep internal crisis. His populist decisions were front-loaded with defiant challenge but were always followed by realistic retreat that appeared like cowardice to people:
1) People felt humiliated after he released a CIA contractor, Raymond Davis, guilty of killing two boys in Lahore in January 2011, after letting them believe that Davis would be hanged; 2) In May 2011, he decided to feel unrealistically enraged by the killing of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad and turned on the government in power after it took the correct posture; and 3) After the Salala incident in November 2011, he flew off the handle and stopped the Nato supply route through Pakistan.
The judicial commission on Osama’s death predictably got snarled up in facts that are too unsavoury to reveal. The retreat on the Nato route was mishandled by the GHQ, which let parliament fly off the handle, riding on delusions of sovereignty in foreign policy. The ISI built up the anti-drone campaign only to see the parliamentary chest-thumping on the subject ignored in Washington.
Going to the Supreme Court during the memogate case was a mistake, as was proved by the unpleasant denouement, which turned the nation against the man the ISI was relying on for evidence needed to convict President Asif Ali Zardari and his cohorts of treason entailing death sentence.
More bad decisions were taken. General Kayani let the erstwhile proxy warriors of the army flex their muscles even after solid evidence of their acts of terrorism outside Pakistan. He let the Difa-e-Pakistan Council loose on the country after his own volte-face on the Nato route. A Chapter Seven UN Security Council resolution on counterterrorism stares Pakistan in the face.
US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta says that Pakistan has committed itself to invading North Waziristan but without attacking the Haqqani network, meaning that drones could go on attacking. General Kayani says he is not going to North Waziristan at all after a brainwashed nation has rejected his Abbottabad assertion that the war against terrorism was Pakistan’s own.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 26th, 2012.
COMMENTS (37)
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General Kiyani foresighted vision may brings significant progress toward nation building.
'......a brainwashed nation has rejected his Abbottabad assertion that the war against terrorism was Pakistan’s own.' So Mr Ahmed thinks he knows better than 180 million people? That's the height of his myopic arrogance.
@US CENTCOM: Great idea. Lets do it together ......but ....... can we trust you? In the eighties, we fought along-side USA ant together we were instrumental in ousting the Soviets from Afghanistan and after achieving your objective, you left us in the lurch to face the consequences. You might blame me of living in the past so I would give you a recent example. Not very long time back, our forces undertook operations in Swat and South Waziristan and since the border on Afghan side was not sealed, the terrorists not only went across but since then conducting terrorist activities against Pakistan from their safe-havens in Afghanistan. Who will guarantee that same does not happen with Haqqanis in case we undertake operation in North Waziristan? Are you willing to seal the border across North Waziristan? I very much doubt. And what about the news item that you have offered three Afghan districts to Haqqanis in exchange for co-operation with USA. What would happen if they choose to co-operate with you?
@wonderer: Identity is important to distinguish between those who write agenda based comments and those who are facing the wrath of terrorism and comment with experience. Thank you for wishing me well. I reciprocate, because if we go down due to proxy war waged against us, many will go down with us as use of militancy as an instrument always backfires. In the eighties, we fought alongside USA and collaborated with them to prepare 'jehadis' to fight the Soviet forces and still facing the consequences.
@Tahir Ali:
Why must your reply depend upon my "identity and origin"? Do you have more than one reply?
In any case I wish you well. Please continue on your chosen path to ruin.
Pakistan has lost over 40,000 of their citizens, including over 5,000 military personnel, to acts of terror. It is surprising to see so many act oblivious to this fact. You can call it anybody’s war, but the fact remains: the terrorists have been waging their war of terror on innocents on both sides of the border. We just witnessed the Taliban massacre 17 innocent Afghan civilians during Eid celebrations. We are fighting these ruthless terrorists who have no regard for human lives. They are determined to destroy Pakistan and keep the region unstable. Unless we unite in our efforts to neutralize these terrorist organizations and view it as a common threat, we will keep seeing these terrorist attacks occur.
Capt. Joseph Kreidel DET-United States Central Command www.centcom.mil/ur
@wonderer: Since you have conveniently disguised your identity and origin, I can not give you a befitting reply and give details of how a proxy war has been unleashed against Pakistan. Find out why so many Indian consulates are operating in Afghanistan to get an answer as to who is waging this war and with whose collaboration. So dear, it is not a figment of my imagination, we are facing a proxy war and have already lost over 40,000 lives at the hands of foreign sponsored terrorists.
@Tahir Ali:
"We are into an era of proxy wars and naturally Pakistan must ......... "
This is not true; it is only a figment of your imagination. No one except Pakistan is in this "era", and that is the reason why Pakistan is where it is. The rest of the world know how to protect their interests without the "proxies", which are called terrorists by the civilized world..
@Nazir Ahmed:
The very concept of looking for "strategic depth" in another country is the height of muddled and stupid thinking, and Pakistan is and will remain the only one to enjoy that dubious honor. (Pakistan did invent and use the term.)
This stupidity leads to the other stupidity of arrogating to itself the right to decide what kind of Government Afghanistan will have. And, if for some genuine reason, a hostile government comes to power in Afghanistan, Pakistan will arrogate to itself the right to look for "strategic depth" in India! Is that not the next natural stupidity?
@MSS: Now, they believe they have not got enough depth of the country to conceal their strategic assets so they need a relatively safe area in Afghanistan for that purpose until such time when either side reaches the nuclear threshold. It is a faulty calculus but that is how the military see it.
Surprising, you understand its a faulty calculus, and Pakistan military does not. Pakistan's stance vis-a-vis Afghanistan has nothing to do with nuclear. We just want that Afghanistan should not be used as a staging ground to launch proxy war against Pakistan by the foreign intelligence agencies, which even today are operating actively to destabilize Pakistan. By compulsion, Pakistan also has to look for proxies to thwart such designs. Just to give you an example, Pakistan military undertook successful operation in Swat and all the terrorists not only went across into Afghanistan but were welcomed and now being used by the foreign intelligence agencies to undertake terrorism activities in Pakistan. So dear, things are not as simplistic as you think they are. We are into an era of proxy wars and naturally Pakistan must look after its interests, though,surely, we can not compete others as far as propaganda is concerned.
@MSS: The interpretation of 'strategic depth' term is being streched too far. It is most desirable to have no threat from western borders when we are threatened on the eastern front. For that you would always try to maintain good relations with Afghanistan and Iran. Pakistan recognised every government in Kabul be that of Shah who opposed Pakistan's entry to UN, then of Daud Khan, Taraki, Karmal, Hafeezuula Amin, Taliban and Karazi for this reason irrespective of thier stance towards Pakistan. Shifting 'strategic assets' to Afghanistan to hide them is strange logic. If a situation arises, these assets are to be used and not hidden. I am sure that situation will not arise Insha Allah.
Tahir Ali, sir you are not correct in saying that strategic depth has become irrelevant in Pakistani army's calculus. Before nuclearisatiom, the idea was to retreat to beyond western borders in the face of an Indian onslaught and thereby stretch Indian supply lines. Now, they believe they have not got enough depth of the country to conceal their strategic assets so they need a relatively safe area in Afghanistan for that purpose until such time when either side reaches the nuclear threshold. It is a faulty calculus but that is how the military see it. Hence they continue to believe that some of THEIR Taliban can be useful. However, the missiles have far greater range than the aircrafts. The concept of strategic depth should have died its on death but it is pretty much alive and kicking.
@Lala Gee: After the murder of Pakistanis by foreign forces, he should have welcomed them in Pakistan.
" The narrative presided over earlier by the Pakistan Army was that America was in Afghanistan seeking a toehold in the region to accomplish its hegemonic ends. It was opposed to Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal and was busy in tandem with India and Israel to plan its elimination". I do not see any change in the above narrative. When Kayani says that 'war against terrorists is our war', he means terrorists who are acting as proxies of foreign intelligence agencies pursuing above objectives. The author must understand that the doctrine of strategic depth in Afghanistan has become irrelevant after Pakistan's nuclearization. I am sure the military leadership understands it. The author has blamed the military establishment for most of the 'wrong' decisions taken vis-a-vis USA in the last four years. If Army leadership is taking all these decisions, what is the government doing. Are they in power for loot and plunder only? It is time the political leadership should start taking ownership of decisions taken at national level. Author's assertion that"The ISI built up the anti-drone campaign", is ill-founded. In my view, media played a major role in this regard and, may be, for the right reasons. Unfortunately, a group of journalists have taken upon themselves to blame Army for everything and in the process lose rationality.
Convoluted thinking. If it is not our war why are we under attack and being killed?
Excellent article on mother of all "real issues" in Pakistan.
Confused article with the aim to divert attention from real issues
@pasha Living in fool paradise
You do hit the nail on the head, Sir.
What was suspected all along looks so true after reading this marvelous piece. Please do take extra care. You are too precious.
good article
Very brave article. This charge sheet is the reason people did not come out on streets against this government. They knew, who is the incharge.
You give your sources for your other "facts", could you also give a source for when Kayani said he was wedded to the doctrine of strategic depth, a doctrine that was created and buried in Aslam Beg's time?
This war on terror from the day one did not really meant what it shows on the face. Its a multi-layer and multi purpose war against strong Muslim countries. Beyond its appearance of killing and ambushing our friends and brothers who were also led to become "terrorists" and "enemies" for us, lays the cunning and damaging intentions of the West. The more we say yes to these wars the more we get entangled in the nefarious plans of our enemies. Hope for the day when get enough faith and courage to say out aloud that who are our enemies in reality whether those enemies are the whole world.....and prepare to deal with them as well with Allah's help.
"The judicial commission on Osama’s death predictably got snarled up in facts that are too unsavoury to reveal." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I am sure that the readers of ET know well how to handle the unsavory. Pls elaborate.
General Kayani let the erstwhile proxy warriors of the army flex their muscles even after solid evidence of their acts of terrorism outside Pakistan."" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ How can the "erstwhile" proxy warriors be let loose subsequently? Time warp? I firmly deny both proxy warriors and solid evidence of terrorism outside Pakistan.
Criticizing is the easiest job to do, what would u have done if u were in his position during salala attack ?
"The retreat on the Nato route was mishandled by the GHQ, which let parliament fly off the handle, riding on delusions of sovereignty in foreign policy."
Cant have it both ways. GHQ has no role in the Parliament's decision to start/stop NATO supplies. It backfired for the army and for the pragmatics but the Parliament eventually made NATO supplies open albeit after too large a gap. Such blunders are well worth the cost for a power change.
Of course rest of the article is spot on[ Difa-e-Pakistan, Memogate etc]. Thanks for a great read.
Khaled saab -- one of the finest intellectuals in the subcontinent. Also a voice in the wilderness in Pakistan.
How unfortunate are Pakistanis led to believe in fictitious stories and delusions of grandeur. Khaled Sahib article is a reminder and eye opener, well said Sir.
Bull' eye. At last somebody has the sense to see reality.
Interesting charge sheet. I will only comment on the operation in NWA. I think ambiguity from both sides (Pakistan and US) stems from the fact that they mean different things when referring to the same area. Cyril Almeida (Dawn) has written a good piece on the issue last week, which is Pakistan and US are both referring to different areas of NWA, namely MiranShah and MirAli with layers of political posturing; this essentially makes things really confusing for people following or commenting on the events.