Disarmament Division of Pakistan's Foreign Ministry

[Rafi]

Military taking part in decision making is regular procedure all around the world, but in Pakistan an officer is permanently station in a position within a MOFA division and not just in a liaison job, but as responsible for duties in the ministry. In Pakistan the Army is not one player in the decision making, it is the decision making and it dictates its will to the other government agencies, including MOFA.

That is what the existence of a Lt. Colonel in MOFA indicates. It is a good sign that you feel uneasy with this situation and try to hide it (another Pakistani claim this information is classified), maybe there still hope for Pakistan not just a state owned by its Army.

Not your concern.

 

[TaimiKhan]

Military taking part in decision making is regular procedure all around the world, but in Pakistan an officer is permanently station in a position within a MOFA division and not just in a liaison job, but as responsible for duties in the ministry. In Pakistan the Army is not one player in the decision making, it is the decision making and it dictates its will to the other government agencies, including MOFA.

That is what the existence of a Lt. Colonel in MOFA indicates. It is a good sign that you feel uneasy with this situation and try to hide it (another Pakistani claim this information is classified), maybe there still hope for Pakistan not just a state owned by its Army.

As i said, MOFA is not the only dept in which officers are posted, they get deputed for a fix period of time and then others take over. And as said since PA are in control of the nukes and have made the strategies and policies in that regard, SPD is run by Army plus civilians but with with major control by the Army, its natural that they have their guy in that place. I am not sure that are you trying to say. Every where around the world, men from military get posted, Embassies have Military Attache's as uniformed men since that post is for a military uniformed guy, similarly the post in MOFA has a uniformed guy since it is his duty and the organization he represents has the duty of what that department is doing. There is no bureaucrat or other civilian qualified to take that job, so army has provided the qualified person, as i said before many other ministries have Army officers deputed on the request of the govt since they don't have qualified men for those posts or competent enough.

And they day our politicians and bureaucrats become mature enough, there would be no need of army in devising strategies for MOFA or giving it instructions, till then Army can do what it seems fit. Hope that resolves your concern.

 

[nirreich]

As i said, MOFA is not the only dept in which officers are posted, they get deputed for a fix period of time and then others take over. And as said since PA are in control of the nukes and have made the strategies and policies in that regard, SPD is run by Army plus civilians but with with major control by the Army, its natural that they have their guy in that place. I am not sure that are you trying to say. Every where around the world, men from military get posted, Embassies have Military Attache's as uniformed men since that post is for a military uniformed guy, similarly the post in MOFA has a uniformed guy since it is his duty and the organization he represents has the duty of what that department is doing. There is no bureaucrat or other civilian qualified to take that job, so army has provided the qualified person, as i said before many other ministries have Army officers deputed on the request of the govt since they don't have qualified men for those posts or competent enough.

And they day our politicians and bureaucrats become mature enough, there would be no need of army in devising strategies for MOFA or giving it instructions, till then Army can do what it seems fit. Hope that resolves your concern.

Pakistan and its Army are indeed a concern, and not just of mine.

Your description of the situation sounds that this is normal that military officers are part of personnel of government ministries, but it is actually very unusual. Israel also has a very powerful defence establishment, but no one will ever think of the idea of stationing officers in MFA or other civilian ministries. Even MOD is a almost only a civilian agency.

The same applies to the nuclear issue. Non of the nuclear weapons countries or even other countries with non-conventional programmes give the military the responsibility over policy and controlling the strategic organisations. This is unhealthy situation because the Army can initiate its own policy according to its own narrow agenda without any consideration for broad national interest and the view of other ministries and the heads of state.

To say that your bureaucracy is not mature enough as so your political system, and GHQ knows better will only strengthen this wrong situation. If the bureaucracy will be continue to be treated like little children by the Army and public, then they will never be competent enough to run the country as they should. Do you want always to live in a semi-military regime? At least about MOFA, From my personal knowledge about Pakistani diplomats they are very impressive and very professional and I do not see any problem for them to run MOFA without any military personnel in their ministry.