fatman17
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New strategy for the same war
Shahid Hussain
So much has been written about the present and future role of the Pakistan Army in governing and serving Pakistan, particularly after the appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. A glaring change of the past and present role is very much visible. Since he took over the charge of the Pakistan Army, his each and every movement is being scrutinised, including his comments on the politicians, media and the masses of Pakistan.
One must acknowledge the few immediate steps taken by him, like reversion of serving officers back to the army who were posted to various civil departments. Secondly, the army was disengaged from civilian posts and helped civilians in the general elections. Thirdly, he asked the army personnel to refrain from meeting politicians and any participation in political activities that can bring a bad name to the institution. According to reliable sources, there have been other revolutionary and praiseworthy steps taken by the General to elevate the life of soldiers through improvement of administration, introducing the number of welfare measures to raise their morale and declaring the year 2008 as the Year of the Soldier. The steps taken were highly appreciated and well-received among the serving and retired army lot as well.
The army helped in the conduct of fair and free elections in a volatile situation. This is a message to the politicians, the bureaucracy and the civil administration that everyone should do ones own job. The army, in any case, is not going to interfere in future. The worst case scenario that resulted in bringing disrepute to the army was due to the negative and weak role displayed by some of the senior bureaucrats and politicians who took the forces for granted. Moreover, ex-COAS Pervez Musharraf remained enthusiastic in employing the army everywhere in the country, whether it was an earthquake zone or a region affected by the war on terrorism. At the same time, the employment of the army in future might be different from the past.
In just three years, the army has carried out certain visible development works in the tribal belt that were never taken during the last 50 years. Let us only take the example of the war on terrorism where reportedly more than 3,000 innocent officers and men have lost their precious lives. But instead the media and the masses have remained critical of the role of the armed forces in eliminating militancy and extremism from the tribal areas. Our valiant army became the victim of an international conspiracy. Rift and gulf between the forces, the masses and ex-COAS widened due to the involvement of unknown elements.
The masses are wise to understand that the army works under a system of do or die. It obeys orders. But unfortunately, a few illiterate religious extremists were poisoned by anti-state elements supported by foreign intelligence agencies. They were told that every soldier of the security agency was a part of a conspiracy theory. The new COAS has a daunting task to repair the damage caused to this brave army and is taking immediate measures to restore the lost pride. The top brass of the army smelt the involvement of some secret hands against Pakistan in the war on terrorism. They felt that the prevailing policy does require some change in the war on terrorism and also rightly realised the forthcoming challenges to be faced by the country.
General Kayani has achieved the confidence of his troops, reflected his commitment of no further involvement in political affairs, spelled out priorities of the professional army, assured its full support to the newly-elected political hierarchy and thus gave a message to them to take charge of this country.
One should always remember that true political force of any country does require the support of the masses, the media, the courts, and well-trained army to implement its policies and defend the exterior boundaries. This is the time now for the newly-elected government to make some policies and arrangements in improving the socio-economic condition of the general public and redefine foreign policy, keeping in view the prevailing security environment. The Pakistan Army has been dragged into a conflict that was against the will of its own peoples. Strong resentment against the existing policies has been displayed in the last elections by the nation too.
According to a report published in a local newspaper dated March 18, 2008, a strong drift in the policy has been made by the army top brass just after the missile attacks in the tribal areas by Nato forces. It has been reported that the defence representatives of Nato forces, commonly known as ODRP, tried their level best to meet military officers in military operation branch at GHQ but any such request was denied. It is a positive sign and now the options are open. The army is available to redesign and tell the US and Nato forces about their priorities. Enough is enough. It is expected that General Kayani is aware of the ground realities and will take immediate measures to boost the morale of the Pakistan Army that has done marvels while serving our motherland.
Our soldiers have protected our frontiers by sacrificing their lives. It is never too late. Let us hope that the Pakistan Army in future adopts a more realistic course in meeting its professional obligations, i.e. serving the country through protecting the boundaries of our motherland. At the same time, the people and the media should understand that the follies of one single individual cannot be attributed to the entire institution.
Shahid Hussain
So much has been written about the present and future role of the Pakistan Army in governing and serving Pakistan, particularly after the appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. A glaring change of the past and present role is very much visible. Since he took over the charge of the Pakistan Army, his each and every movement is being scrutinised, including his comments on the politicians, media and the masses of Pakistan.
One must acknowledge the few immediate steps taken by him, like reversion of serving officers back to the army who were posted to various civil departments. Secondly, the army was disengaged from civilian posts and helped civilians in the general elections. Thirdly, he asked the army personnel to refrain from meeting politicians and any participation in political activities that can bring a bad name to the institution. According to reliable sources, there have been other revolutionary and praiseworthy steps taken by the General to elevate the life of soldiers through improvement of administration, introducing the number of welfare measures to raise their morale and declaring the year 2008 as the Year of the Soldier. The steps taken were highly appreciated and well-received among the serving and retired army lot as well.
The army helped in the conduct of fair and free elections in a volatile situation. This is a message to the politicians, the bureaucracy and the civil administration that everyone should do ones own job. The army, in any case, is not going to interfere in future. The worst case scenario that resulted in bringing disrepute to the army was due to the negative and weak role displayed by some of the senior bureaucrats and politicians who took the forces for granted. Moreover, ex-COAS Pervez Musharraf remained enthusiastic in employing the army everywhere in the country, whether it was an earthquake zone or a region affected by the war on terrorism. At the same time, the employment of the army in future might be different from the past.
In just three years, the army has carried out certain visible development works in the tribal belt that were never taken during the last 50 years. Let us only take the example of the war on terrorism where reportedly more than 3,000 innocent officers and men have lost their precious lives. But instead the media and the masses have remained critical of the role of the armed forces in eliminating militancy and extremism from the tribal areas. Our valiant army became the victim of an international conspiracy. Rift and gulf between the forces, the masses and ex-COAS widened due to the involvement of unknown elements.
The masses are wise to understand that the army works under a system of do or die. It obeys orders. But unfortunately, a few illiterate religious extremists were poisoned by anti-state elements supported by foreign intelligence agencies. They were told that every soldier of the security agency was a part of a conspiracy theory. The new COAS has a daunting task to repair the damage caused to this brave army and is taking immediate measures to restore the lost pride. The top brass of the army smelt the involvement of some secret hands against Pakistan in the war on terrorism. They felt that the prevailing policy does require some change in the war on terrorism and also rightly realised the forthcoming challenges to be faced by the country.
General Kayani has achieved the confidence of his troops, reflected his commitment of no further involvement in political affairs, spelled out priorities of the professional army, assured its full support to the newly-elected political hierarchy and thus gave a message to them to take charge of this country.
One should always remember that true political force of any country does require the support of the masses, the media, the courts, and well-trained army to implement its policies and defend the exterior boundaries. This is the time now for the newly-elected government to make some policies and arrangements in improving the socio-economic condition of the general public and redefine foreign policy, keeping in view the prevailing security environment. The Pakistan Army has been dragged into a conflict that was against the will of its own peoples. Strong resentment against the existing policies has been displayed in the last elections by the nation too.
According to a report published in a local newspaper dated March 18, 2008, a strong drift in the policy has been made by the army top brass just after the missile attacks in the tribal areas by Nato forces. It has been reported that the defence representatives of Nato forces, commonly known as ODRP, tried their level best to meet military officers in military operation branch at GHQ but any such request was denied. It is a positive sign and now the options are open. The army is available to redesign and tell the US and Nato forces about their priorities. Enough is enough. It is expected that General Kayani is aware of the ground realities and will take immediate measures to boost the morale of the Pakistan Army that has done marvels while serving our motherland.
Our soldiers have protected our frontiers by sacrificing their lives. It is never too late. Let us hope that the Pakistan Army in future adopts a more realistic course in meeting its professional obligations, i.e. serving the country through protecting the boundaries of our motherland. At the same time, the people and the media should understand that the follies of one single individual cannot be attributed to the entire institution.
