Windjammer
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Chief of Army Staff | General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
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The greatest dilemma of the general
It’s been one heck of a roller coaster office stint for the soft-spoken and hard-smoking Pakistani army chief, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. He started off as the Teflon man, impervious to the minutest of scratches by the strongest of adversaries.
He was right there in the midst of the deals being hammered between Benazir and Gen Musharraf, courtesy the United States and yet, no one (including Nawaz Sharif) ever questioned his role while lampooning the fallen dictator for the dirty NRO.
Every intelligence cooperation with US was heaped on Musharraf even though Kayani was the ISI chief. Yet no one accused him of playing footsy with the Yanks. Zardari could not have become Mr President had the then top military brass, including Gen Kayani, opposed his elevation after first forcing a reluctant but increasingly unpopular Musharraf to give up his uniform.
Yet, while Zardari is criticised for every sin imaginable, the man primarily responsible for this action through his inaction (if not outright support) was never blamed for this fiasco.
During his first term as COAS, he was the darling of the Americans and a personal friend of the likes of Admiral Mullen, etc., who he now feels back stabbed his institution. Of course he had also bent backwards to prove a diehard friend of Pakistan’s democracy (if it can be so called).
Life couldn’t get any better, so apparently it decided to go the other way.
His world has literally transformed over the past one year. A three-year extension later, he carries the heavy burden of proving that his loyalty lies with his institution, to the state, and not to an individual who gave him an unprecedented extra three years in the second most powerful office in the country.
The same Kayani had, in 2010, returned a very happy man from his NATO get-together in Brussels, convinced that the US and others had become converts to his assessment of the Afghan imbroglio and his proffered tenable solutions.
Today, the same Americans and others view his viewpoint as being the biggest impediment to their own Afghan solution and would like to see his back along with that of ISI chief Gen Pasha.
As for democracy, well he’s surely had his fill of the democrats in the wake of the Osama and Mehran base incidents. Despite being a thorn in the West’s side, he is being viewed by his own top generals, and the middle-order officers in particular, as being a trifle soft on Americans and the president alike.
That is why all eyes are on the ongoing corps commanders’ meeting being held in the wake of the US withholding its $800 million military assistance package. By the time of this column going into print a lot of details of the meeting would already have come out and analysed threadbare by analysts of all ilk and acumen, but what shall unquestionably remain the most scrutinised aspect, both by the outside world of observers and his own peers, will be all that the chief said, or even more important chose not to.
To quote one of his most trusted and loyal top commanders: “The chief is someone who likes to think his way through very carefully,” adding in the same breath however, “but sometimes too much thinking also is not necessarily good as you can miss that vital right time to take the right action.”
A more ominous assessment was made by another many-starred general who added rather sombrely: “The army works in a different manner. A point comes where if the chief does not, or cannot run the army then the army runs the chief.” Hardly a comforting thought.
The COAS will definitely be judged for his ability to:
a) Ensure that the armed forces are not isolated as a separate recalcitrant factor by the Americans by specifically blocking the so-called military aid and that the political dispensation stands by its side.
b) Come up with a prudent, and justifiable, response to the increased public bashing by the US military and political establishment
c) To stand up for his institution that increasingly feels besieged both at home and internationally while preserving his professed democratic credentials
d) Convince the nation whether the policies being pursued by the army are pro-Pakistan, pro-Afghanistan or simply anti-US.
But most important of all, the time is fast approaching where Gen Kayani may have to decide whether he is part of the national solution or the problem. Could there be a greater dilemma?
The writer is editor The News, Islamabad.
The greatest dilemma of the general - Mohammad Malick
It’s been one heck of a roller coaster office stint for the soft-spoken and hard-smoking Pakistani army chief, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. He started off as the Teflon man, impervious to the minutest of scratches by the strongest of adversaries.
He was right there in the midst of the deals being hammered between Benazir and Gen Musharraf, courtesy the United States and yet, no one (including Nawaz Sharif) ever questioned his role while lampooning the fallen dictator for the dirty NRO.
Every intelligence cooperation with US was heaped on Musharraf even though Kayani was the ISI chief. Yet no one accused him of playing footsy with the Yanks. Zardari could not have become Mr President had the then top military brass, including Gen Kayani, opposed his elevation after first forcing a reluctant but increasingly unpopular Musharraf to give up his uniform.
Yet, while Zardari is criticised for every sin imaginable, the man primarily responsible for this action through his inaction (if not outright support) was never blamed for this fiasco.
During his first term as COAS, he was the darling of the Americans and a personal friend of the likes of Admiral Mullen, etc., who he now feels back stabbed his institution. Of course he had also bent backwards to prove a diehard friend of Pakistan’s democracy (if it can be so called).
Life couldn’t get any better, so apparently it decided to go the other way.
His world has literally transformed over the past one year. A three-year extension later, he carries the heavy burden of proving that his loyalty lies with his institution, to the state, and not to an individual who gave him an unprecedented extra three years in the second most powerful office in the country.
The same Kayani had, in 2010, returned a very happy man from his NATO get-together in Brussels, convinced that the US and others had become converts to his assessment of the Afghan imbroglio and his proffered tenable solutions.
Today, the same Americans and others view his viewpoint as being the biggest impediment to their own Afghan solution and would like to see his back along with that of ISI chief Gen Pasha.
As for democracy, well he’s surely had his fill of the democrats in the wake of the Osama and Mehran base incidents. Despite being a thorn in the West’s side, he is being viewed by his own top generals, and the middle-order officers in particular, as being a trifle soft on Americans and the president alike.
That is why all eyes are on the ongoing corps commanders’ meeting being held in the wake of the US withholding its $800 million military assistance package. By the time of this column going into print a lot of details of the meeting would already have come out and analysed threadbare by analysts of all ilk and acumen, but what shall unquestionably remain the most scrutinised aspect, both by the outside world of observers and his own peers, will be all that the chief said, or even more important chose not to.
To quote one of his most trusted and loyal top commanders: “The chief is someone who likes to think his way through very carefully,” adding in the same breath however, “but sometimes too much thinking also is not necessarily good as you can miss that vital right time to take the right action.”
A more ominous assessment was made by another many-starred general who added rather sombrely: “The army works in a different manner. A point comes where if the chief does not, or cannot run the army then the army runs the chief.” Hardly a comforting thought.
The COAS will definitely be judged for his ability to:
a) Ensure that the armed forces are not isolated as a separate recalcitrant factor by the Americans by specifically blocking the so-called military aid and that the political dispensation stands by its side.
b) Come up with a prudent, and justifiable, response to the increased public bashing by the US military and political establishment
c) To stand up for his institution that increasingly feels besieged both at home and internationally while preserving his professed democratic credentials
d) Convince the nation whether the policies being pursued by the army are pro-Pakistan, pro-Afghanistan or simply anti-US.
But most important of all, the time is fast approaching where Gen Kayani may have to decide whether he is part of the national solution or the problem. Could there be a greater dilemma?
The writer is editor The News, Islamabad.
The greatest dilemma of the general - Mohammad Malick
Windjammer
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Rawalpindi - July 12, 2011:
140th Corps Commanders Conference was held at General Headquarters today. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani chaired the meeting.
The participants were briefed in detail about the security situation in the country in general and ongoing operations in Kurram and Mohmand Agencies in particular. Matters of operational preparedness were also discussed.
COAS in his opening remarks appreciated the conduct of ongoing operations. Referring to Mohmand Agency, he instructed that all efforts must be utilized in coordination with civil administration for safe return of IDPs. He said that the aim of operation in Kurram Agency is to clear the area of miscreants involved in terrorism, kidnapping, killing of locals and blocking of road connecting lower with upper Kurram. COAS lauded the support of locals in flushing out terrorists from their area.
The Forum reiterated the resolve to fight the menace of terrorism in our own national interest using our own resources.
Participants also reviewed the pre flood arrangements in view of onset Monsoon season.
soul hacker
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Xeric
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Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency )
COAS pays tribute to officers, soldiers martyred in Mohmand Agency
RAWALPINDI, July 13 (APP): Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani paid tribute to the officers and soldiers who laid down their lives while fighting against terrorists in Mohmand Agency. He was addressing the troops at Wali Dad Top, near Pak-Afghan border during his visit to Mohmand Agency, says a press release of ISPR issued here. The COAS attributed the success to the outstanding combat skills and high morale of the armed forces and FC. He also praised the joint operations of Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force for the clearance of Suran Sector.
General Kayani also met the Mishrans (notables) of Mohmand Agency and thanked them for their wholehearted support to the military operations.
He emphasized the need for the tribes to take full responsibility and effective control for ensuring sustainable peace in their area.
He directed the military and civil authorities to extend all possible support to the returning IDPs.
Malik Subedar Safi, the representative of local Mishrans, thanked the COAS and acknowledged the sacrifices of the Army in flushing out the terrorists.
Mishrans also appreciated the efforts of Political Agent in restoring the old system of tribal administration as per their Riwaj.
The COAS was informed that over 1500 terrorists have surrendered to the Political Agent and are being dealt in accordance with the FCR.
Troops also destroyed seven factories of IEDs in the area.
During the Mohmand operations, 69 officers and soldiers embraced shahadat and 231 were injured (including 41 critical injuries).
The COAS was accompanied by Corps Commander Peshawar,Lieutenant General Asif Yasin Malik and IGFC Major General Nadir Zeb.
COAS pays tribute to officers, soldiers martyred in Mohmand Agency
RAWALPINDI, July 13 (APP): Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani paid tribute to the officers and soldiers who laid down their lives while fighting against terrorists in Mohmand Agency. He was addressing the troops at Wali Dad Top, near Pak-Afghan border during his visit to Mohmand Agency, says a press release of ISPR issued here. The COAS attributed the success to the outstanding combat skills and high morale of the armed forces and FC. He also praised the joint operations of Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force for the clearance of Suran Sector.
General Kayani also met the Mishrans (notables) of Mohmand Agency and thanked them for their wholehearted support to the military operations.
He emphasized the need for the tribes to take full responsibility and effective control for ensuring sustainable peace in their area.
He directed the military and civil authorities to extend all possible support to the returning IDPs.
Malik Subedar Safi, the representative of local Mishrans, thanked the COAS and acknowledged the sacrifices of the Army in flushing out the terrorists.
Mishrans also appreciated the efforts of Political Agent in restoring the old system of tribal administration as per their Riwaj.
The COAS was informed that over 1500 terrorists have surrendered to the Political Agent and are being dealt in accordance with the FCR.
Troops also destroyed seven factories of IEDs in the area.
During the Mohmand operations, 69 officers and soldiers embraced shahadat and 231 were injured (including 41 critical injuries).
The COAS was accompanied by Corps Commander Peshawar,Lieutenant General Asif Yasin Malik and IGFC Major General Nadir Zeb.
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muse
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Exactly what is wrong with the Pakistani state and it's armed forces - the armed forces want zero responsibility, whereas the population want the security services to take responsibility and by doing so, allow the population to be won by the security services and the state -- but clearly the Pakistan COAS does not understand this, clearly.
fatman17
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SIR he understands - read the why the army must go into NWA in the pakistan's war section.
muse
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I have read it - you above all, should know that i would have read it -
Nothing in it allows me to conclude that such an operation has any chance of long term success - extremism is an ideology, we can physically eliminate the extremist, but so long as the ideology has currency in society we will be very busy winning the same territory over and over again.
Nothing in it allows me to conclude that such an operation has any chance of long term success - extremism is an ideology, we can physically eliminate the extremist, but so long as the ideology has currency in society we will be very busy winning the same territory over and over again.
Xeric
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He is asking the locals not to fall in the traps of the miscreants, not to support them and to proactively counter the influence that these guys have the ability to wield and you imply it as if the Army wants 'zero responsibility'?
Muse, believe me, there are better things in this world to do than by the tankeed brai tankeed syndrome.
Xeric
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Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency )
COAS pays tribute to officers, soldiers martyred in Mohmand Agency
When was the last time anyone from the civies-thund-program-group visited any of the conflict zones?
Zero responsibility by the civilians?
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