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The army: anything but idle
Monday, April 26, 2010
Zafar Hilaly
For much of the past decade the army was learning about everything but its own profession. It had a part-time COAS who doubled up as a part-time dictator. Now and then he also performed as a part-time politician. Then he shot himself in the foot, politically speaking, and, mercifully for the nation, is no more. To the relief of everybody, including the army, the institution is back in the hands of full-time professional soldiers.
One has no idea why the great novelist Leo Tolstoy felt that all that the military did was to wallow in compulsory and irreproachable idleness. Or, perhaps, that is what the Czarist armies did, because the Pakistani army is by no means idle. It is at war in the east and at war stations in the west, and in-between these two poles it is training furiously. Moreover, it is adapting to new and independent command structures, beefing up concepts and plans, with operational readiness as the top priority. In short, the army is anything but idle.
Not even the civilian observers invited to witness the recent exercise, appropriately named Azm-e-Nau III, were left to idle. We were marched up and down, told where to sit, stand and, in one case, lie down, and where to look, and why. All of which was done with exquisite politeness.
Whatever else has changed since the nineties when one spent two eventful years at the NDC: the army bird, the glorious chicken, still retains pride of place on the menu, be it noon or night.
Azm-e Nau (renewed determination) is the name of a series of exercises that the army is presently conducting in separate theatres. The idea is to be able to take on an enemy wherever he may be, without having to detract from the efficacy of operations elsewhere. Essentially it is to meet the several front wars that may be imposed on us.
Among the more noticeable changes that one encountered from the 90s is the equipment of the army. Vehicles that were at one time scarce are a-plenty and most of them newish, with the possible exception of the decade-old Ukrainian tanks. Al-Khalid, the main battle tank that is locally produced, is constantly refurbished by new gadgetry to keep up with requirements. Greater firepower has been added and tanks now have the ability to mount operations at night.
Happily, the discipline and the camaraderie of old remain intact. And there has been one huge change for the better. The spirit of the army is wondrous to behold. Unity, and morale, that often frays in peacetime and had plummeted under Musharraf, is sky high, just when it is most needed. The army has recovered its poise and morale and the two essential reasons are Kayani and Kayani.
Seldom has one man made a greater difference. Promotions on grounds other than professional competence are out. In fact, officers known to be close to Kayani, in terms of belonging to his unit, or otherwise having interacted closely with him, have been passed over in favour of others with only marginally better records. His personal demeanour, unlike that of Musharraf, evinces praise rather than embarrassed glances; and, more to the point, he is a genuinely humble man. He doesnt strut around like a peacock.
One noticed that Kayani made it a point to shake the hands of the jawans who were half hidden behind a phalanx of officers and guests. The gesture was not contrived. He meant it. The fact that his troops want to greet him and shake his hand shows the palpable regard and affection in which he is held. He is lustily cheered when addressing troops and one learns that completely unrehearsed and spontaneous slogans have been heard during his tours.
The fact that Kayani is always on the move, visiting outlying and often dangerous areas to show that he cares for his troops, binds the army rank and file to him. He is a man of few words. And strangely, in a country full of chatter boxes, this goes down well.
For some of us, the fact that sets him apart from other chiefs is not only that he is a doer but that he is a voracious reader. He has an open mind, keeps abreast of developments and is deeply conscious of the image that the army needs to build and maintain.
Kayani is politics-averse, not in the ways that, say, Gen Waheed was (politicians disgusted Waheed), but because he genuinely believes that the army has no role in politics in a democracy. In fact, he seems almost squeamish in this regard. Like it or not, a COAS in Pakistan happens to be a key player on the political scene, his opinions may not be formally necessary but his inputs count. In the past our army chiefs have sat on the fence till they were forced to get off on one side or the other. The fact is that they are neither spectators nor umpires. They are part of Team Pakistan. It does not matter who scores the goal as long as the team wins.
With Kayani, and successful campaigns in Swat and Waziristan under its belt, the army seems gung-ho about the future. However, one did notice among the officers to whom one spoke, concern that if he was to depart when his term is up in November the measures that he has set in motion may lose their momentum. He should stay and see them through, one spirited colonel said very emphatically.
As for the exercises, they were reassuring. Troops using the new equipment have mastered the technique. The number of bulls-eye that they achieved was exceptional. Perhaps the most significant aspect of the entire exercise was the participation of the air force. Thanks to Kayani, they are now an integral part of army battle plans.
The litmus test of any exercise held by the army is how better it will enable Pakistan to repulse an Indian attack. It was noticeable that the Indians held their exercises at precisely the time the Pakistani army was heavily engaged in the east. That may have been coincidental or deliberate, but of the purpose and thrust of Azm-e-Nau III there can be no doubt, and, specifically how to contain and counter an Indian foray.
Curiously, there was not a word about the nuclear overhang under which all future India-Pakistan conflicts will be waged. That was in a sense reassuring. The army is confident that the instrument of first resort will suffice to ward off and punish the aggressor, and hence the weapon of last resort need not be primed. That said, it would be foolish to rule it out.
In the searing heat and dust of the exercise ground, the thought that, although India and Pakistan can kill off their respective populations, they are no safer, did cross ones mind. And also that six decades on, India and Pakistan remain at daggers drawn, so great has been the idiocy of their leaders. But, then, we know that though knowledge can be communicated, not so wisdom.
The writer is a former ambassador. Email: charles123it@hotmail.com
Monday, April 26, 2010
Zafar Hilaly
For much of the past decade the army was learning about everything but its own profession. It had a part-time COAS who doubled up as a part-time dictator. Now and then he also performed as a part-time politician. Then he shot himself in the foot, politically speaking, and, mercifully for the nation, is no more. To the relief of everybody, including the army, the institution is back in the hands of full-time professional soldiers.
One has no idea why the great novelist Leo Tolstoy felt that all that the military did was to wallow in compulsory and irreproachable idleness. Or, perhaps, that is what the Czarist armies did, because the Pakistani army is by no means idle. It is at war in the east and at war stations in the west, and in-between these two poles it is training furiously. Moreover, it is adapting to new and independent command structures, beefing up concepts and plans, with operational readiness as the top priority. In short, the army is anything but idle.
Not even the civilian observers invited to witness the recent exercise, appropriately named Azm-e-Nau III, were left to idle. We were marched up and down, told where to sit, stand and, in one case, lie down, and where to look, and why. All of which was done with exquisite politeness.
Whatever else has changed since the nineties when one spent two eventful years at the NDC: the army bird, the glorious chicken, still retains pride of place on the menu, be it noon or night.
Azm-e Nau (renewed determination) is the name of a series of exercises that the army is presently conducting in separate theatres. The idea is to be able to take on an enemy wherever he may be, without having to detract from the efficacy of operations elsewhere. Essentially it is to meet the several front wars that may be imposed on us.
Among the more noticeable changes that one encountered from the 90s is the equipment of the army. Vehicles that were at one time scarce are a-plenty and most of them newish, with the possible exception of the decade-old Ukrainian tanks. Al-Khalid, the main battle tank that is locally produced, is constantly refurbished by new gadgetry to keep up with requirements. Greater firepower has been added and tanks now have the ability to mount operations at night.
Happily, the discipline and the camaraderie of old remain intact. And there has been one huge change for the better. The spirit of the army is wondrous to behold. Unity, and morale, that often frays in peacetime and had plummeted under Musharraf, is sky high, just when it is most needed. The army has recovered its poise and morale and the two essential reasons are Kayani and Kayani.
Seldom has one man made a greater difference. Promotions on grounds other than professional competence are out. In fact, officers known to be close to Kayani, in terms of belonging to his unit, or otherwise having interacted closely with him, have been passed over in favour of others with only marginally better records. His personal demeanour, unlike that of Musharraf, evinces praise rather than embarrassed glances; and, more to the point, he is a genuinely humble man. He doesnt strut around like a peacock.
One noticed that Kayani made it a point to shake the hands of the jawans who were half hidden behind a phalanx of officers and guests. The gesture was not contrived. He meant it. The fact that his troops want to greet him and shake his hand shows the palpable regard and affection in which he is held. He is lustily cheered when addressing troops and one learns that completely unrehearsed and spontaneous slogans have been heard during his tours.
The fact that Kayani is always on the move, visiting outlying and often dangerous areas to show that he cares for his troops, binds the army rank and file to him. He is a man of few words. And strangely, in a country full of chatter boxes, this goes down well.
For some of us, the fact that sets him apart from other chiefs is not only that he is a doer but that he is a voracious reader. He has an open mind, keeps abreast of developments and is deeply conscious of the image that the army needs to build and maintain.
Kayani is politics-averse, not in the ways that, say, Gen Waheed was (politicians disgusted Waheed), but because he genuinely believes that the army has no role in politics in a democracy. In fact, he seems almost squeamish in this regard. Like it or not, a COAS in Pakistan happens to be a key player on the political scene, his opinions may not be formally necessary but his inputs count. In the past our army chiefs have sat on the fence till they were forced to get off on one side or the other. The fact is that they are neither spectators nor umpires. They are part of Team Pakistan. It does not matter who scores the goal as long as the team wins.
With Kayani, and successful campaigns in Swat and Waziristan under its belt, the army seems gung-ho about the future. However, one did notice among the officers to whom one spoke, concern that if he was to depart when his term is up in November the measures that he has set in motion may lose their momentum. He should stay and see them through, one spirited colonel said very emphatically.
As for the exercises, they were reassuring. Troops using the new equipment have mastered the technique. The number of bulls-eye that they achieved was exceptional. Perhaps the most significant aspect of the entire exercise was the participation of the air force. Thanks to Kayani, they are now an integral part of army battle plans.
The litmus test of any exercise held by the army is how better it will enable Pakistan to repulse an Indian attack. It was noticeable that the Indians held their exercises at precisely the time the Pakistani army was heavily engaged in the east. That may have been coincidental or deliberate, but of the purpose and thrust of Azm-e-Nau III there can be no doubt, and, specifically how to contain and counter an Indian foray.
Curiously, there was not a word about the nuclear overhang under which all future India-Pakistan conflicts will be waged. That was in a sense reassuring. The army is confident that the instrument of first resort will suffice to ward off and punish the aggressor, and hence the weapon of last resort need not be primed. That said, it would be foolish to rule it out.
In the searing heat and dust of the exercise ground, the thought that, although India and Pakistan can kill off their respective populations, they are no safer, did cross ones mind. And also that six decades on, India and Pakistan remain at daggers drawn, so great has been the idiocy of their leaders. But, then, we know that though knowledge can be communicated, not so wisdom.
The writer is a former ambassador. Email: charles123it@hotmail.com
