The writer is an educationist. He is currently the principal of Sir Adamjee Institute in Karachi
How unfortunate is the fact that three major political parties are openly criticising the war and confusing the people by declaring the war on terror as an American war? How is this war, which has vigorously involved thousands of our soldiers and civilians, not our own? This is tantamount to high treason whether these elements like it or not.
The problem with us is that politicians hesitate to collaborate with the military due to certain reasons for their lack of knowledge on strategy and military matters. Entering a war, executing it and ending it is a collaborative effort. Mere verbosity and rhetoric in public gatherings is not the answer. The malicious propaganda against the armed forces by right-wing media is unstoppable with a peculiar band of politicians. The armed forces, as a disciplined organisation, cannot send its representatives to media houses to take part in daily talk shows arranged by pseudo-intellectuals who are driven by self-delusion and self-importance.
General Kayani has not minced words and declared in unambiguous terms that the menace of terrorism cannot be fought by the military alone unless the entire nation embraces it as the major threat to our survival and our own war. What is more depressing is the fact that unabashedly, a vicious propaganda is at work and the nation is wrongly made to believe that we are fighting America’s war.
On this momentous occasion, the army chief, in his address, has categorically affirmed that the forthcoming elections will be held on schedule on May 11 and allayed the fears of those sceptical that elections might not be held on time. The cooperation extended to civilian authorities should be taken seriously and taken as a sign of the resolve and commitment of the army to a smooth transition to the newly elected civilian leadership.
The army chief has echoed the words of Harold Laski when he said that democratic culture cannot be sustained unless the people are not economically and socially empowered. The only way out is to take into account the welfare of the people. What we have been witnessing is a wide gap between the haves and have-nots. He has referred to the extractive political and economic institutions that are a great impediment to the democratisation of a society. Rightly so, he has mentioned that democratic culture is beyond retribution.
Analysing the crux of this important address by the army chief, one tends to agree with him that the current situation of the country is not stable and the squabbles and irresponsible behaviour of politicians have worsened the situation. Some sceptics have misconstrued the underlying theme of the address. In fact, General Kayani has reminded those elements that at a time when the troops are engaged with terrorists and when they have been deployed in major cities, any adventurism on the part of political parties, on or after the elections, might turn the events into a repeat of the 1977 elections. It is, therefore, in the interest of the country that the elections be held on time and in a peaceful manner.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 9th, 2013.
COMMENTS (12)
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Those who declare a war against terrorists seek terrorists, find and confront terrorists and at the end fight terrorists. The alternative for the wise one is to show his back to the terrorists, ignore the presence of terrorists and seek peace instead. Mr Anjum, this is not your war, nor are there terroriss in the world per say. This is the yanky's war with the label of "war against terrorism". Theis is a Nation of war, they have always fought wars under diferent labels at home and abroad, hot as well as cold. Tos who resisted them were given different titles, rebels, insurgents, communists or whatever. God almghty has given the greatest power to EVIL in this world and the only way to defeat Evil is to ignore it, turn your back and the world shall return to its health. This is what Merlin did.and this is what the leaders of Pakisan need to do!
Rex Minor
I think I made it clear in my earlier missive that Pakistan was attempting to follow a middle course between satisfying America and controlling the Taliban, albeit not too successfully. However, the people who write emotional articles should remember that several countries who have not cooperated with the US are now in very bad condition. For example, Iraq is now a wasteland, Libya is now a wasteland, Syria has been fighting a desperate war against US funded militants for three years, Afghanistan is not in great shape, and the next US target is Iran. These countries have lost greater than a million people, and badly damaged infrastructures. It would appear that Pakistan's middle course is producing reasonably good results. One contributor mentioned 60,000 deaths over 10 years. However, this is fairly small potatoes. As an example, the US have 19,000 violent deaths per year, which over ten years comes to 190,000. Obviously, the situation is not perfect, but I cannot see any appreciable improvement occurring until the US vacate the sub-continent. Unfortunately, I do not see any signs of that happening any time soon.
The innumerable occasions when Gen. Kayani didn't take over from PM Gilani or or President Zardari when the civilian government was clearly inadequate are as many salvos for democracy fired by him! Gen. Kayani should be praised for his restraints on these occasions. The biggest occasion was Zardari's visit to Europe and UK when Pakistanis faced severe hardships due to unprecedented floods. So well done, General. You have set a noteworthy example which, hopefully, would be followed by your successors!
Listen to what Fatima Bhutto is saying. Ms. Bhutto is a smart courageous woman - she's neither a zardari-fan nor a nawaz-supporter. Her impartial opinion about IMRAN sums up my feelings.
IMRAN is a total maulvi when it comes to women's rights and the rights of non-Muslims in Pakistan.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GdFD3x4pD8c&desktop_uri=/watch?v=GdFD3x4pD8c
How could it be 'our war' ? Some 50,000 rag tags bruising a million strong Army, at will, since the past 10+ years ? 40,000+ civilians killed, businesses destroyed, economy destroyed, infrastructure destroyed, and in defense all we, the ordinary mortals have, are unmanned road blocks ? The least, for anyone to claim ownership, should have been able to show a professional upgraded Police Force, whereas only the reverse is true.
So your argument is that if terrorists cause mischief on election day, then an overstretched Army that is unable to deal with the terrorists will blame the politicians and that will lead to a 1977 type situation?
This is either complete delusion or an attempt at revisionist history. No credible intellectual would deny that the military establishment see's these militants as assets and has assisted their operations in Afghanistan. The fact that the violence has also proliferated in Pakistan is the fault of the military itself. The civilian casualties are simply seen as collateral damage was simply seen as collateral damage mostly concentrated in the tribal areas at first. Now it is continuing to grow and seems to have consumed every corner of Pakistan profoundly. Being heavily invested in this failed strategy, I feel the military is absolutely paralyzed to change course at this juncture. To defend the military or even worse, demonize critics will only compound the problem. If the Pakistani security establishment needs anything, they need criticism.
Ridiculous!
In the words of a French WWI Prime Minister, Georges Clemenceau: War is too important to be left to the generals.
Look where these stupid generals and their 8 years of mindless war-on-terror have taken us! Enough!
How we as nation should deal with this problem must be decided by us (the people), by our chosen representatives (the politicians); and not by generals whose only stake in this country is plots!
We, the ordinary people take the full brunt of this madness, and therefore it is we who will decide how to deal with it. The generals' only job is to say, “Sir, Yes Sir!“
@shahid: by your reasoning; one cannot comment on the corruption in the country unless they have joined the police investigative forces, one cannot comment on the polio/measles vaccine issues unless they have signed up to be a vaccinator, one cannot comment on the problems in the cricket teams unless they have signed up to be an official cricket referee! By the way, you failed to say what army unit you belong to so we can take your comment seriously!
>> How is this war, which has vigorously involved thousands of our soldiers and civilians, not our own? This is tantamount to high treason whether these elements like it or not.
Are you willing to volunteer to physically fight the insurgents in support of many lashkars that are currently engaged in this effort instead of leaving it to the foot soldiers of the army? If so then what have you done so far in this regard.
Despite the TTP terrorists killing, bombing, maiming and beheading more than 60 thousand foot soldiers, ANP, MQM, PPP workers and leaders, decimating the Shia community and minorities some still deny it is our war. Yes it is open treason to be in bed with those who are at war with Pakistani army and its people. The carnage continues, the elections are hijacked in broad daylight by TTP for its two favorite rightwing parties and openly taking responsibility of most murders, yet it is not our war. There are beneficiaries of TTP’s atrocities and brutalities and there are victims. The voters have to decide who do they want, the terrorist friends or those standing with beheaded and blown up soldiers and civilians?
Dear Najeeb Anjum, You were partially correct in the above article, but you forgot to mention many aspects of the Aghanistan/Pakistan/US/NATO conflict, and by isolating relevant factors, what you wrote became almost totally irrelevant. In a short missive one cannot go into too much detail, or go too far back in history. However, I do not think anybody would argue with the fact that America created and trained an Afghanistan Pashtun fighting force to fight and repel the Russians in the 1980s. Then for reasons which no intelligent person would pay credence to the US invaded Afghanistan, and induced their minions from NATO/Australia to help them, thus inadvertantly expanding the Pashtun fighting force even more, and pushing them over the border into Pakistan. This militant group has spread through much of Pakistan, the MIddle-East and Africa. Pashtuns, usually referred to as militants, as a put-down, are excellent exponents of asymmetric warfare, and therefore extremely difficult to beat. On the other hand the Pakistan Government has 1,200 million fairly hostile people with nuclear technology on its Eastern border. I consider that Pakistan is following a wise course in not becoming overly involved with the militants at this point of time, and therefore staying out of what can only be described as an American created war, which does not require vicious propaganda to make it so. If the Americans ever get out and stop their mischievous interference perhaps Pakistan will be able to solve its problems.