Pressure from people, not from generals
Syed Anwar MahmoodSaturday, June 18, 2011
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ISLAMABAD: Do we still need to be told what has been going on in Washington these past weeks? Was it just another coincidence that for weeks the US administration, its lawmakers, its military and its media were all playing the same tune? That Pakistan was not doing enough. That elements within the Pakistan Army were essentially and covertly shielding the Taliban. That the Pakistan Army was no longer cooperating in the war against terror. That Pakistan wanted US out of the Shahbaz Air Base. That the Pakistan Army had little to show for the $1.1 billion given annually for counterinsurgency efforts. And it went on and on.
As if all that was not enough, now comes the New York Times story that Gen Kayani “the most powerful man in the country is fighting to save his position in the face of seething anger from top generals and junior officers since the American raid that killed Osama bin Laden, according to Pakistan officials and people who have met the chief in recent weeks.” Now can there be a greater cock and bull story for simply put, it means that Gen Kayani has been telling people and officials he has met in recent weeks that he is fighting to save his position in the face of seething anger from his colleagues in arms. How else would his visitors know that? Now, no army chief worth his salt would ever say that to his visitors, even if he was under such pressure. Least of all, Chief of the Pakistan Army which has a well-known and well established reputation for discipline and respect for its chain of command.
And we should thank God for it given the many crises that Pakistan has faced in the past and where its disciplined army stood guard against all odds. Is it that strength of discipline and character that is now worrying our ally of allies? The pressure that Gen Kayani and the Pakistan Army faces today is to stay the course and act in the interest of Pakistan alone, protect its sovereignty and that includes fight against terror. Same pressure is on the Pakistani political leadership. The drama that started unfolding from the raid on the OBL camp in Abbottabad continues to play out to this day.
And as I see it, it is not about to end any time soon. Pakistan Army is not an institution in isolation. It is composed of people — people who draw their inspiration and support from 180 million Pakistanis. They breath the same air and share the same values, strengths and even weaknesses. So, when that ally of allies stealthily flies in its Seal Helicopters to kill and take out OBL from his hide out in Abbotabad, the humiliation and scorn thus inflicted on the Pakistan armed forces is also felt by the 180 million Pakistanis. When hundreds of Raymond Davis drive around in different Pakistani cities spying on us and showing utter contempt for Pakistani laws and regulations, the humiliation is felt not just by the Pakistan Army but by all the 180 million Pakistanis.
Today, with the United States spending $649 billion on defence next year, $118 billion of which is on defence engagements overseas, Pakistan is offered a measly $1.1 billion, not even one per cent of the US defence spending overseas. And we now learn that of this, 75 per cent will be withheld until the US Administration reports to the Congress on how it would spend the money. That is peanuts indeed and reminds us of events three decades ago. And yet, three decades since that Zia-Carter stand off, we have come to such pass that we have no one to call a spade a spade or peanuts as peanuts. And if the Pakistan Army stands up and says enough is enough, we see unfold an orchestrated campaign against it. I hold no brief for anyone, any party or any leader. But as a Pakistani who has seen national events from very close quarters for over three decades, I feel extremely concerned. More so when I see a section of our intelligentsia swallowing the propaganda hook, line and sinker.
The latest US Congressional action has come at a critical time for Pakistan and its army in particular. The Osama bin Laden operation in Abbottabad and the Mehran Base attack have put the Pakistan armed forces and the country’s security agencies on the back foot. They are under immense pressure not just from outside but from within. Although the ISPR press release following the recent corps commanders conference did spell out at length the sentiments of the Pakistan Army on various issues including the US grant for counter insurgency, the army has rightly left it to the government to respond to the decision of the US Congress. Such proprieties apart, the fact remains that all institutions do no appear to be acting in tandem. And that is what is worrisome for the harassed state of Pakistan.
With each passing day, Pakistan-US relations continue to nosedive with the US Administration, the US lawmakers and the US media only hastening the process. The latest Congressional action, the recent hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee and leaks to the US media based on half truths are all accelerating the nosedive. In the process, they are hurting US perhaps more than hurting Pakistan. And in Pakistan itself, our lawmakers are busy in non issues. Take a look at the proceedings of the National Assembly and the Senate and you would realize that while Pakistan is on fire, its leadership has other chores to do. Like the Babar Awan-Rana Sanaullah duet. Let us raise our hands in prayer for Pakistan.
The writer is a former Federal Information and Health Secretary
As if all that was not enough, now comes the New York Times story that Gen Kayani “the most powerful man in the country is fighting to save his position in the face of seething anger from top generals and junior officers since the American raid that killed Osama bin Laden, according to Pakistan officials and people who have met the chief in recent weeks.” Now can there be a greater cock and bull story for simply put, it means that Gen Kayani has been telling people and officials he has met in recent weeks that he is fighting to save his position in the face of seething anger from his colleagues in arms. How else would his visitors know that? Now, no army chief worth his salt would ever say that to his visitors, even if he was under such pressure. Least of all, Chief of the Pakistan Army which has a well-known and well established reputation for discipline and respect for its chain of command.
And we should thank God for it given the many crises that Pakistan has faced in the past and where its disciplined army stood guard against all odds. Is it that strength of discipline and character that is now worrying our ally of allies? The pressure that Gen Kayani and the Pakistan Army faces today is to stay the course and act in the interest of Pakistan alone, protect its sovereignty and that includes fight against terror. Same pressure is on the Pakistani political leadership. The drama that started unfolding from the raid on the OBL camp in Abbottabad continues to play out to this day.
And as I see it, it is not about to end any time soon. Pakistan Army is not an institution in isolation. It is composed of people — people who draw their inspiration and support from 180 million Pakistanis. They breath the same air and share the same values, strengths and even weaknesses. So, when that ally of allies stealthily flies in its Seal Helicopters to kill and take out OBL from his hide out in Abbotabad, the humiliation and scorn thus inflicted on the Pakistan armed forces is also felt by the 180 million Pakistanis. When hundreds of Raymond Davis drive around in different Pakistani cities spying on us and showing utter contempt for Pakistani laws and regulations, the humiliation is felt not just by the Pakistan Army but by all the 180 million Pakistanis.
Today, with the United States spending $649 billion on defence next year, $118 billion of which is on defence engagements overseas, Pakistan is offered a measly $1.1 billion, not even one per cent of the US defence spending overseas. And we now learn that of this, 75 per cent will be withheld until the US Administration reports to the Congress on how it would spend the money. That is peanuts indeed and reminds us of events three decades ago. And yet, three decades since that Zia-Carter stand off, we have come to such pass that we have no one to call a spade a spade or peanuts as peanuts. And if the Pakistan Army stands up and says enough is enough, we see unfold an orchestrated campaign against it. I hold no brief for anyone, any party or any leader. But as a Pakistani who has seen national events from very close quarters for over three decades, I feel extremely concerned. More so when I see a section of our intelligentsia swallowing the propaganda hook, line and sinker.
The latest US Congressional action has come at a critical time for Pakistan and its army in particular. The Osama bin Laden operation in Abbottabad and the Mehran Base attack have put the Pakistan armed forces and the country’s security agencies on the back foot. They are under immense pressure not just from outside but from within. Although the ISPR press release following the recent corps commanders conference did spell out at length the sentiments of the Pakistan Army on various issues including the US grant for counter insurgency, the army has rightly left it to the government to respond to the decision of the US Congress. Such proprieties apart, the fact remains that all institutions do no appear to be acting in tandem. And that is what is worrisome for the harassed state of Pakistan.
With each passing day, Pakistan-US relations continue to nosedive with the US Administration, the US lawmakers and the US media only hastening the process. The latest Congressional action, the recent hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee and leaks to the US media based on half truths are all accelerating the nosedive. In the process, they are hurting US perhaps more than hurting Pakistan. And in Pakistan itself, our lawmakers are busy in non issues. Take a look at the proceedings of the National Assembly and the Senate and you would realize that while Pakistan is on fire, its leadership has other chores to do. Like the Babar Awan-Rana Sanaullah duet. Let us raise our hands in prayer for Pakistan.
The writer is a former Federal Information and Health Secretary
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