The writer served as director general of the ISI from 1998-99
Economic disparity between the rich and the poor has assumed new heights. The rich in Pakistan are an asset as they contribute towards the betterment of the economy but the culture of display of wealth is causing hatred and consternation among the not-so-fortunate and the poor. Landlords exploit farmers and factory owners are unfair towards their workers. These two categories are not benefiting from our labour and social security laws due to the manipulation of terms of service by the employers. In our country, the concept of private entrepreneurship has been thoroughly corrupted in the absence of strict punishments for violation of corporate laws.
The economic situation in the country is not likely to improve in the near future. In fact, it will get worse as we approach the IMF for a bailout. The poor will have to tighten their belts further. They are likely to revolt against the system and resort to bank robberies, abduction for ransom, extortion and consequently, targeted killings — all acts which the government categorises as terrorism. The rich should help the poor by establishing cottage industries and offering financial help to help them start up small businesses.
On the issue of religious fanaticism, I believe there are extraneous factors, which are fanning inter-sectarian hatred. There is no such tension in India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia or even Indian-held Kashmir, which has both, a large Shia and Sunni population. Spiritual leaders and ulema in both sects are doing an admirable job of creating amity. Our intelligence agencies should be on the lookout to identify the saboteurs and provocateurs and bring them to justice. Indoctrination should be combined with adroit use of force. Religious antagonism has to be handled with care as the motivations for extreme acts like suicide bombings, however misplaced, are very strong; the economic factor being one of them. Hate material published by either side against each other’s beliefs is adding fuel to fire. Production and distribution of such material should be made a cognisable offence, warranting exemplary punishment.
Inadequacy of the government is the third dimension of this malaise. The public and the media are putting the entire blame of the present scenario on the agencies; some are even accusing them of being a party to the problem, which is absolutely rubbish. Intelligence agencies like the Inter-Services Intelligence, the Intelligence Bureau and the Special Branch are effective resources provided to the government.
In my personal opinion, they are not getting the desired allocations for carrying out their operations. The establishment cost of these institutions is always a fraction of the requirement for conducting operations. I am sure, given the resources, our agencies are second to none. Here, I would suggest we create a homeland security organisation. Manpower for this organisation should be provided by the army in the category of reservists and retired officers and men. This large trained manpower can easily take charge of the situation in the shortest possible time. To sort out the present grave law and order mayhem in the country, we need immediate practical measures to fight terrorism and bring back peace alongside security of life and property.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2013.
COMMENTS (17)
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How many wake up calls do the Pakistani people require to change ????
P-Q-R-S-T is the procedure used to measure the health of a human heart! Any cardioligist could explain to the former militaty man, who was sent home a decade ago. His inteligence work tells him that the Govt. is not functioning and therefore it needs the yanky system of home security. There are no indigenous citizens in the USA, which is made up from the immigrants and slaves. Pakistan citizens are mostly natives and those who were given asylums. They are experiimenting some kind of a democratic system which has been marred by several military take overs as well as incompetent civilian leadership. The cocuntry needs a team of politologes, the wise men, to advise the legislators and the administration, how one makes a Nation of people who have different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. My advise would be to have a dialogue, talks, talks and more talks until such time that people reset their modes from violence to a dialogue. Let the former General enjoy his retirement with the farmers and their children. There should be nothing against the retired people working as unpaid volunteers to keep peace in their villages and towns.
Rex Minor
@Parvez Pervez Sahib, you ever had any hope of any convincing thing from these generals?
@Rizwan: in order to have anything of your own, you need PERMISSION of brotherly country. with out that you are not allowed to toilet.
@Rahul Gandhi sahib, unfortunately you are right :-))))) since kind of these are the "SAVIORS" of Pakistan, we do not need any enemy. They are enough for that purpose :-))
A pakistani General agreeing that India is better qualified to hold Kashmir.
Pakistan should think positively towards India and seek cooperation with India in all fields. Pakistanis are now finding chinese as good friend forgetting that they will be the worst enemies later on. They are the international cheats. Never trust the chinese. They have handed over part of the country for the development. Gadar port is a recent example. They dont work for the development for the pakistan. They want to establish a base against India. Chinese want to be catalyst in the war between India and pakistan. India is thorn in the flesh of the chinese and they want to inflict as much damage as possible. So they found poor pakistanis, who incidentally think India the same way the chinese, a good ally. The wat will be fought with pakistan suffering major infliction while India will suffer economically. Two birds in one stone for the chinese. One the arms sale will improve from pakistan to the chinese, two they might have brought economic down swing to India.. Hence in theinterest of Pakistan they should shun the chinese and get frieindly*with India. Chinese are dangerous for both pakistan and India. Pakistan should have a forethougt about the chinese.
Bottom line: Give more money, stop asking questions, we'll take care of it.
But, the problem was they said that in 1971 and consequently every year too..
This guy made General :) I think we will be just fine .... lol !
I think some of the commenters here are lacking intellectual capacity. The present setup obviously isn't working and psuedo intellectual ramblings like the ones suggesting 'core issue' resolutions and 'will of the people' grand solutions have not worked and will never work. Pakistan is terminally ill, this is it, there is no more denial allowed. The only way to fix this is a force based solution, it has worked for the U.S in Iraq, it has worked for even China and Russia ironic to the mocking example one commentator makes here. Just trashing realism like the one in this article is what our couch based revolutionaries (commentators) are best at, no counter solutions, no sense.
ET should have not publish this rubbish article. General lacking intellectual capacity.
Right. The solution to a huge army is to double its size. Great wisdom I must say. The little resources we have left after paying for the enormous army should be directed at creating yet more army. General sahib, the solution to every problem is not army.
Totally unconvincing.................sorry.
The one aspect that is most important and is always ignored resulting in continued failures. The mobilisation of the people to become responsible citizens to become partners and participants in such ventures of bringing security in their localities. For as long as the authorities will keep on gnoring the part that people can play they will keep on meeting with failures.
I think we need something like the KGB or Chinese secret service in this country. The Chinese have tabs on everyone in China. I read that they have thousands of agents monitoring the internet forums.
"Here, I would suggest we create a homeland security organisation. Manpower for this organisation should be provided by the army in the category of reservists and retired officers and men. This large trained manpower can easily take charge of the situation in the shortest possible time. To sort out the present grave law and order mayhem in the country, we need immediate practical measures to fight terrorism and bring back peace alongside security of life and property."
It seems the retired general is feeling jealous of the establishment siphoning off the billions received from the US and now has a novel idea of expanding the military complex by creating a Homeland Security, which will entitle him to some of the billions.