Safriz
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It is often argued that Pakistans defence expenditure should be curtailed in order to promote economic development. In my view, such arguments are misconceived. The choice is not between a security state and a welfare state. These are not either/or alternatives. The issue will be wrongly posed if put in terms of a mutually exclusive choice between defence and economic development.
In most countries defence is accorded the same level of priority as economic achievement. We need not look too far that India is a prime example, as are the US, China and other smaller countries, where defence is given great importance.
Considering the extremely heavy tasks our defence forces are required to perform, Pakistans defence budget is at a bare minimum. In the absence of effective armed forces our situation would be most perilous. No economic prosperity would be possible in conditions of anarchy or debility, and economic activity would dwindle.
The current sentiments against our military are the result of long periods of military dictatorships. It is not the job of the army to run the country; its job is to protect it against aggression. The dictatorships of General Ziaul Haq and General Pervez Musharraf did incalculable harm to Pakistan, with the armed forces themselves suffering badly from their misadventures and malfeasance. The militarys professionalism was tarnished by its involvement in non-military duties.
But the follies of our military rulers should not make us denigrate our armed forces. A strong and effective defence is imperative in the conditions we face. In fact, I would go so far as to say that an effective defence will promote our economic progress. This is true of all those countries in the world that are militarily strong today.
At the same time, it is necessary that the professionalism of our armed forces becomes impeccable. They must become forward-looking and adapt to new challenges. For all this to happen, a reorientation of their thinking is needed.
Our military inherited British traditions. Although this laid a sound organisational pattern, it limited conceptual abilities. We became strong in tactics but weak in strategy. For example, in the 1971 war, we won all the tactical battles in the eastern wing against absolutely overwhelming odds, but utterly floundered in strategic conception and operational methodology. A divergence between political, military and economic aims has been prominent in our history.
Policy requires weighing probabilities, possibilities and practicalities. The vitality of an entity is dependent upon its ability to strike a balance between the requirements of organisation and tackling risks and opportunities.
Modern conditions are so complex that is becomes difficult to achieve this balance. Vision, insight and analytical skill are necessary to transcend specialised frameworks and the administrative, bureaucratic framework of the defence establishment. Ends and means must not get confused with cause and effect. If an entity faces too many unexpected challenges, its power to make decisions breaks down. In military annals, a superior military doctrine has led to victory at least as often as superiority of resources.
In our present context, developing a capacity to deal with insurgencies and non-conventional warfare is also required.
In this new world, technology is changing at an exponential rate, and technological issues have assumed crucial importance. Decisions involving technology can make the difference between victory and defeat. The choices among innumerable different weapon systems have become complex, costly and decisive.
As an illustration, our one and only submarine kept most of the Indian navy bottled up in their harbours during the 1965 war. The position was reversed in the 1971 war, when we had nothing to counter the Indian OSA missile boats. With the introduction of drones and robotic weapons, many traditional military methods are becoming outdated. Valour is being eliminated and warfare is being dehumanised. Nuclear weapons have also complicated issues of deterrence and defence doctrines.
A pre-requisite in our context is the importance of effective and integrated coordination between the army, air force and navy. This has been found wanting in the past. There has also been a lack of planning between the Defence Production Division and the Directorate General Defence Purchase. There is reason to believe that our overall defence budget can be more efficiently allocated by the armed forces for better effectiveness and capability. In other words, better teeth-to-tail ratio.
To look at the positive side, our military personnel possess all those qualities of courage, toughness and commitment that are required of their profession. What is essential is proper overall direction and conceptual thought in military planning.
Above all, it is imperative that our armed forces have the full support of the people they serve and protect. Their success would be almost impossible without such support. All of us need to help in building up their morale. The armed forces, in turn, should make efforts to earn such support, without resorting to adventurism or military rule in the future.
The writer is a former ambassador.
Email: [email protected]
In most countries defence is accorded the same level of priority as economic achievement. We need not look too far that India is a prime example, as are the US, China and other smaller countries, where defence is given great importance.
Considering the extremely heavy tasks our defence forces are required to perform, Pakistans defence budget is at a bare minimum. In the absence of effective armed forces our situation would be most perilous. No economic prosperity would be possible in conditions of anarchy or debility, and economic activity would dwindle.
The current sentiments against our military are the result of long periods of military dictatorships. It is not the job of the army to run the country; its job is to protect it against aggression. The dictatorships of General Ziaul Haq and General Pervez Musharraf did incalculable harm to Pakistan, with the armed forces themselves suffering badly from their misadventures and malfeasance. The militarys professionalism was tarnished by its involvement in non-military duties.
But the follies of our military rulers should not make us denigrate our armed forces. A strong and effective defence is imperative in the conditions we face. In fact, I would go so far as to say that an effective defence will promote our economic progress. This is true of all those countries in the world that are militarily strong today.
At the same time, it is necessary that the professionalism of our armed forces becomes impeccable. They must become forward-looking and adapt to new challenges. For all this to happen, a reorientation of their thinking is needed.
Our military inherited British traditions. Although this laid a sound organisational pattern, it limited conceptual abilities. We became strong in tactics but weak in strategy. For example, in the 1971 war, we won all the tactical battles in the eastern wing against absolutely overwhelming odds, but utterly floundered in strategic conception and operational methodology. A divergence between political, military and economic aims has been prominent in our history.
Policy requires weighing probabilities, possibilities and practicalities. The vitality of an entity is dependent upon its ability to strike a balance between the requirements of organisation and tackling risks and opportunities.
Modern conditions are so complex that is becomes difficult to achieve this balance. Vision, insight and analytical skill are necessary to transcend specialised frameworks and the administrative, bureaucratic framework of the defence establishment. Ends and means must not get confused with cause and effect. If an entity faces too many unexpected challenges, its power to make decisions breaks down. In military annals, a superior military doctrine has led to victory at least as often as superiority of resources.
In our present context, developing a capacity to deal with insurgencies and non-conventional warfare is also required.
In this new world, technology is changing at an exponential rate, and technological issues have assumed crucial importance. Decisions involving technology can make the difference between victory and defeat. The choices among innumerable different weapon systems have become complex, costly and decisive.
As an illustration, our one and only submarine kept most of the Indian navy bottled up in their harbours during the 1965 war. The position was reversed in the 1971 war, when we had nothing to counter the Indian OSA missile boats. With the introduction of drones and robotic weapons, many traditional military methods are becoming outdated. Valour is being eliminated and warfare is being dehumanised. Nuclear weapons have also complicated issues of deterrence and defence doctrines.
A pre-requisite in our context is the importance of effective and integrated coordination between the army, air force and navy. This has been found wanting in the past. There has also been a lack of planning between the Defence Production Division and the Directorate General Defence Purchase. There is reason to believe that our overall defence budget can be more efficiently allocated by the armed forces for better effectiveness and capability. In other words, better teeth-to-tail ratio.
To look at the positive side, our military personnel possess all those qualities of courage, toughness and commitment that are required of their profession. What is essential is proper overall direction and conceptual thought in military planning.
Above all, it is imperative that our armed forces have the full support of the people they serve and protect. Their success would be almost impossible without such support. All of us need to help in building up their morale. The armed forces, in turn, should make efforts to earn such support, without resorting to adventurism or military rule in the future.
The writer is a former ambassador.
Email: [email protected]
