Pakistan Army now has Seat at Negotiating Table with India

[Zarvan]

by Rezaul H Laska

Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj meeting Pakistani Prime Minister's foreign policy adviser Sartaj Azizin Islamabad on Wednesday. The recent appointment of retired general Nasser Khan Janjua as the new NSA of Pakistan has got Pakistan Military a say in the talks with India. (AP File Photo)

In the euphoria that followed the announcement about a new dialogue process between India and Pakistan, many would have missed out on a key development – a place at the negotiating table for the Pakistani military.

The joint statement issued on Wednesday after talks in Islamabad between external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and Sartaj Aziz, the Pakistani Prime Minister’s foreign policy adviser, said the two national security advisers will address all issues connected to terrorism.

Since October 22, retired general Nasser Khan Janjua has been Pakistan’s NSA. His predecessor, Sartaj Aziz, was quietly divested of the post as the military strengthened its already firm grip on foreign policy and security issues.

The reason trotted out by sources quoted in Pakistani media reports was that the powers that be believed Aziz was unable to fully attend to the posts of NSA and foreign affairs adviser. It was pointed out the National Security Committee had met only four times under Aziz’s watch since 2013.

The reality is that the mild-mannered Aziz would have had little say on national security even if the committee had met dozens of times. Aziz’s removal as NSA, as the Dawn newspaper put it, was a sign of the “shrinking control of the civilian administration over national security which has traditionally been the military’s domain”.

Janjua was appointed NSA after he retired as chief of the Quetta-based Southern Command and is considered close to army chief Gen Raheel Sharif. A handful of Pakistani generals served as NSA in the past but they were appointed by the civilian leadership. In the case of Janjua, he is clearly the choice of the generals in Rawalpindi.

For some in India who have pushed for greater engagement with the Pakistani military, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“Our best dealings with Pakistan were during the time of (former military ruler Pervez) Musharraf. The question really is of engagement. When we engage, things move,” AS Dulat, a former head of the Research and Analysis Wing, told Hindustan Times.

Since the composite dialogue process began in 1998, Pakistan’s military has had a role in the talks but uniformed officials were only part of delegations led by civilian bureaucrats that discussed issues such as the standoff on the Siachen glacier and the disputed maritime border at Sir Creek.

For a long time, the Pakistan Army has pushed for a more direct role in talks with India. On several occasions, feelers were sent to New Delhi to deal with the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi because the generals set the tone for ties with India and the US.

In July 2009, then Inter-Services Intelligence chief Shuja Pasha, during a rare meeting with Indian military attaches, went so far as to suggest that India should deal directly with Pakistan’s army and intelligence set-up. He also acknowledged the role of the army and ISI in framing Pakistan’s India policies.

Now, Janjua will help the Pakistani military establishment achieve its objective of having a direct say in talks with India. The talks between the NSAs, significantly, will be apart from the new “comprehensive dialogue” process.

“NSA Janjua will have a lead role in discussing terror. His presence will be helpful because he will have the ears of the right quarters and serve as a direct channel with the powers that matter (in Pakistan),” said Baqir Sajjad Syed, the diplomatic correspondent of Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper.

The Pakistani military establishment’s decision to make Janjua the NSA was apparently based on the discomfiture at dealing with Indian NSA Ajit Doval, a spymaster with a long stint in Pakistan.

“They now have a pointman they have greater confidence in, a pointman they think can deal with the Indian pointman. But the Pakistani military’s attitude on key issues like India, Afghanistan and nuclear matters won’t change,” said Rana Banerji, a retired special secretary in the cabinet secretariat and national security expert.

“This will enhance the Pakistani military’s comfort level because they didn’t think Sartaj Aziz was capable of dealing with the Indian NSA.”

The Pakistan Army has been reluctant to give up other civilian positions it has taken over in the past. Since 1999, the post of defence secretary has been the domain of retired generals, except for two brief stints in 2007-08 and 2012.

In the same way, the army is not expected to give up the post of NSA. That, observers say, will ensure the Pakistani military establishment continues to have a say in talks with India.

Pakistan Army now has seat at negotiating table with India | analysis | Hindustan Times

 

[Indika]

Indians have no qualms in dealing with pakistan military its easier to negotiate with instigator instead of the proxy. But by giving indirect prominence to pakistan military india is just supporting weakening of civilian democracy in pakistan.
If the talks were to stretch for long time then pakistan prime minister might well end up having permanent observer status.

 

[That Guy]

What a piss poor, terribly researched article. I'm sorry, I can't, someone else deal with this. I just can't.

 

[wiseone2]

What a piss poor, terribly researched article. I'm sorry, I can't, someone else deal with this. I just can't.

if there are specific things you disagree with state them

 

[dadeechi]

by Rezaul H Laska

Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj meeting Pakistani Prime Minister's foreign policy adviser Sartaj Azizin Islamabad on Wednesday. The recent appointment of retired general Nasser Khan Janjua as the new NSA of Pakistan has got Pakistan Military a say in the talks with India. (AP File Photo)

In the euphoria that followed the announcement about a new dialogue process between India and Pakistan, many would have missed out on a key development – a place at the negotiating table for the Pakistani military.

The joint statement issued on Wednesday after talks in Islamabad between external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and Sartaj Aziz, the Pakistani Prime Minister’s foreign policy adviser, said the two national security advisers will address all issues connected to terrorism.

Since October 22, retired general Nasser Khan Janjua has been Pakistan’s NSA. His predecessor, Sartaj Aziz, was quietly divested of the post as the military strengthened its already firm grip on foreign policy and security issues.

The reason trotted out by sources quoted in Pakistani media reports was that the powers that be believed Aziz was unable to fully attend to the posts of NSA and foreign affairs adviser. It was pointed out the National Security Committee had met only four times under Aziz’s watch since 2013.

The reality is that the mild-mannered Aziz would have had little say on national security even if the committee had met dozens of times. Aziz’s removal as NSA, as the Dawn newspaper put it, was a sign of the “shrinking control of the civilian administration over national security which has traditionally been the military’s domain”.

Janjua was appointed NSA after he retired as chief of the Quetta-based Southern Command and is considered close to army chief Gen Raheel Sharif. A handful of Pakistani generals served as NSA in the past but they were appointed by the civilian leadership. In the case of Janjua, he is clearly the choice of the generals in Rawalpindi.

For some in India who have pushed for greater engagement with the Pakistani military, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“Our best dealings with Pakistan were during the time of (former military ruler Pervez) Musharraf. The question really is of engagement. When we engage, things move,” AS Dulat, a former head of the Research and Analysis Wing, told Hindustan Times.

Since the composite dialogue process began in 1998, Pakistan’s military has had a role in the talks but uniformed officials were only part of delegations led by civilian bureaucrats that discussed issues such as the standoff on the Siachen glacier and the disputed maritime border at Sir Creek.

For a long time, the Pakistan Army has pushed for a more direct role in talks with India. On several occasions, feelers were sent to New Delhi to deal with the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi because the generals set the tone for ties with India and the US.

In July 2009, then Inter-Services Intelligence chief Shuja Pasha, during a rare meeting with Indian military attaches, went so far as to suggest that India should deal directly with Pakistan’s army and intelligence set-up. He also acknowledged the role of the army and ISI in framing Pakistan’s India policies.

Now, Janjua will help the Pakistani military establishment achieve its objective of having a direct say in talks with India. The talks between the NSAs, significantly, will be apart from the new “comprehensive dialogue” process.

“NSA Janjua will have a lead role in discussing terror. His presence will be helpful because he will have the ears of the right quarters and serve as a direct channel with the powers that matter (in Pakistan),” said Baqir Sajjad Syed, the diplomatic correspondent of Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper.

The Pakistani military establishment’s decision to make Janjua the NSA was apparently based on the discomfiture at dealing with Indian NSA Ajit Doval, a spymaster with a long stint in Pakistan.

“They now have a pointman they have greater confidence in, a pointman they think can deal with the Indian pointman. But the Pakistani military’s attitude on key issues like India, Afghanistan and nuclear matters won’t change,” said Rana Banerji, a retired special secretary in the cabinet secretariat and national security expert.

“This will enhance the Pakistani military’s comfort level because they didn’t think Sartaj Aziz was capable of dealing with the Indian NSA.”

The Pakistan Army has been reluctant to give up other civilian positions it has taken over in the past. Since 1999, the post of defence secretary has been the domain of retired generals, except for two brief stints in 2007-08 and 2012.

In the same way, the army is not expected to give up the post of NSA. That, observers say, will ensure the Pakistani military establishment continues to have a say in talks with India.

Pakistan Army now has seat at negotiating table with India | analysis | Hindustan Times

India has been pushing for this for a long time and I think Pakistan's political leadership has finally relented to this request.

For any meaningful talks and agreements to with stand the test of time it is imperative that Pakistan's military is fully onboard and they sign-off on the same.

India does not want the repeat of Indira-Bhutto talks and a failed agreement like 1971 Shimla agreement.

 

[Green Arrow]

Poorly written article. It was not army but NS own choice to appoint Lt. gen Nasir as NSA. In fact Lt.Gen Nasir as corp commander Quetta had full confidence of NS. Therefore, He was appointed as NSA soon after retirement. Sartaz Aziz was made NSA only for temporary period of time.

 

[ThaniOruvan]

Whole world knows the civilian Government is at the mercy of the Pakistan army though it is elected by people.
As far as Indian and Afghan policies are concerned army is the master and NS is the slave.

 

[thesolar65]

Yeh toh hona hi tha!! If true then it is a good decision.

 

[Kakaspai]

Poorly written article. It was not army but NS own choice to appoint Lt. gen Nasir as NSA. In fact Lt.Gen Nasir as corp commander Quetta had full confidence of NS. Therefore, He was appointed as NSA soon after retirement. Sartaz Aziz was made NSA only for temporary period of time.

i am just waiting for some indian to say that Raheel Sharif appointed himself as a Coas.Nawaz sharif had no role

 

[Viper0011.]

by Rezaul H Laska

Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj meeting Pakistani Prime Minister's foreign policy adviser Sartaj Azizin Islamabad on Wednesday. The recent appointment of retired general Nasser Khan Janjua as the new NSA of Pakistan has got Pakistan Military a say in the talks with India. (AP File Photo)

Pakistan Army and ANY Army will always have a seat against their arch rival. Its stupid to assume no. Does the Indian PM just creates a defense policy out of his hate for minorities? No, he consults with active and retired generals from IA and IAF.

Similarly, who runs our war strategies and recommend the POTUS on how we should deal with threats? The Pentagon and NSA. So considering Pakistan would do something insanely different than how the world works, is silly.

There is a reason why Gen. Collin Powell was considered a serious authority over devising these serious policies as he had ran wars and advised the civilian leadership and on how to move forward with policies. Plus the national security adviser should always have some security related background. Gen. Jangua has dealt with Indian involvement directly, and has eliminated majority of it. So there it makes perfect sense to put him into these discussions so he can directly tell the Indians where they are spreading terrorism inside Pakistan and all.

There was a reason why FM of India told NS upon him mentioning Gen. Jangua's name that "we've heard a lot about him". As he's the one who shut down RAW's terrorist shops in Pakistan in multiple regions.

 

[Jat Boy]

Viper

YOU ARE COMPLETELY WRONG WITH THIS STATEMENT

Does the Indian PM just creates a defense policy out of his hate for minorities? No, he consults with active and retired generals from IA and IAF.

indian military never ever GETS INVOLVED in politics

THEY ARE PROFESSIONALS who will advise on security of the nation only.

There is difference in NIGHT & DAY between indian top brass & Pak Top Brass ( PAK ARMY)

THE WORLD KNOWS THE PAK ARMY RUNS THE SHOW IN PAKISTAN ..

not in india ....

Fantastic Answer FROM A brilliant indian 4 star general to a educated pak journalist

 

[aanshu001]

Pakistan Army was always on the table except 1947-48 1st Kashmir War. Both in 1965 & 1971 army was in power and Kargil was also a military adventure, even your thinkers and leaders says openly that India specific policy is always need military approval

 

[wiseone2]

i am just waiting for some indian to say that Raheel Sharif appointed himself as a Coas.Nawaz sharif had no role

Nawaz sharif might have a choice. But the list is vetted by your army commanders.

 

[Green Angel]

Yaar LANAT DO INDIA pe,Bhar main jaye yeh.....
PCB talks,Shushma Sewerage visit to Pakistan all that shit.

 

[GURU DUTT]

What a piss poor, terribly researched article. I'm sorry, I can't, someone else deal with this. I just can't.

you dint get it TT isr its the classic ranting article by paid media presstitute HT but the bottomline of the article is its the pakistani millitarry which takes all the decissions regarding foriegn policy and you bieng a pakistani yourself knows this fact too very well both owr NSA - PMO & EF ministry knew this fact and main reason they were not interested to talk to your polictical elite as there say on such matters dont really matter hence now something will surely come owt .... cheers mate