Dawood Ibrahim
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By Webmaster -
December 6, 2016
0
18
Saak Khattak
THERE is a common adage in the Armed Forces that a commander’s true ACR is always written by his subordinates. Beginning from the military academy through the entire career a commander at every tier is highly sensitive to the feelings of his subordinates about his person both as a professional and a leader of men. In Pakistan’s peculiar environment, where the army’s role has historically not remained restricted to pure constitutional position hence its conduct remained subjected to formal and informal debates during our 70 years of history.
In our peculiar environment the Army’s exposure in various national domains affecting public life allows it to develop a special relationship with the common folks which though is not formal but got strengthened over a period of time. This special relationship got strengthened over a period of time much to the dislike of political elite. This public image of the forces is kept in very high esteem by the army while working out its plans for various contingencies in aid of civil power.
While there is no denying the fact that the army is the most organized institution holding the country together in the difficult time of our history with unflinching public support, question needs to be asked as to what are the factors that keep the armed forces organized and efficient which may serve as model for other state institutions to emulate? One, fortunately the armed forces continue to remain free from political interference in its promotions, postings and other functional domains. It has survived few such attempts in the past which also attracted greater public rebuke. Second, the armed forces scrupulously maintains a very high standard of merit in its selection, training, and promotion regimes. I would like to illustrate this with an example while drawing a parallel. Pakistan currently has 85 ambassadors across the world out of whom 15 are from outside the Foreign Service cadre. 8 out of the 15 are ex three and two star generals offered by respective services after well thought out considerations while the remaining 7 are politically selected.
What are the prerequisites and selection criteria for political selection of our ambassadors I leave it to the readers? On the other hand, the selection of a Defense Attaché (BPS 19 and 20) in the armed forces is finally decided at the desk of respective services chief after a very laborious process preceding it. None other than our ambassadors would be in a better position to comment on the quality of these officers in respective embassies. Majority of these officers generally make it to two or three star generals in their own time. Besides, even final selection of an officer equivalent to BPS 17 for foreign assignments including courses is done through the pen of respective services chiefs. Three, with zero interference from outside, the armed forces as an institution is completely alien to any ethno sectarian biases. Any commander never takes into consideration the ethno sectarian lineage while exercising his command thus invariably enjoys complete trust of his command. Kinks of such biases displayed at any tier is ruthlessly handled putting a lasting seal on the individual’s future progression.
Four, Malpractices and corruption eats an institution from within. While no tall claims can be made, the armed forces as an institution is relatively considered clean. This is primarily due to institutional approach to financial management denying all possible opportunities besides extremely strict accountability and punitive measures available and practised within the institution. Five, the armed forces enjoy inherent organizational strength and flexibility to respond to any unforeseen contingencies and challenges. This has been amply demonstrated in response to various natural calamities like floods and earthquakes in the recent and distant past. The war on terror has further enhanced the army’s potential to handle internal threats besides adding to its battle hardiness though at a great cost.
Countries are efficiently run by strong institutions. In our country due to non- existent local bodies system there is greater public pressure on parliamentarians for meeting their demands. These pushes and pulls lead to unwarranted political interference in our civil institutions thus leading to poor recruitment and subsequently below standard performance by the institutions. A brief resume of the internal processes within the armed forces for maintaining its various regimes leading to its institutional efficiency and better public image would surely have been of interest to our civil institutional and political leadership responsible for public services. Total de-politicisation of our institutions and strict adherence to merit alone holds key if we have to improve our public image commensurate to one enjoyed by armed forces.
— The writer, a retired Maj Gen, is DG Pakistan Institute for Conflict & Security Studies, an independent think-tank based in Islamabad
http://pakobserver.net/the-armys-high-image/
@SherDil007 @war&peace @GreenFalcon @Indus Falcon @Khafee @Morse_Code @El_Swordsmen @Farah Sohail @PakSword
@PaklovesTurkiye
December 6, 2016
0
18
Saak Khattak
THERE is a common adage in the Armed Forces that a commander’s true ACR is always written by his subordinates. Beginning from the military academy through the entire career a commander at every tier is highly sensitive to the feelings of his subordinates about his person both as a professional and a leader of men. In Pakistan’s peculiar environment, where the army’s role has historically not remained restricted to pure constitutional position hence its conduct remained subjected to formal and informal debates during our 70 years of history.
In our peculiar environment the Army’s exposure in various national domains affecting public life allows it to develop a special relationship with the common folks which though is not formal but got strengthened over a period of time. This special relationship got strengthened over a period of time much to the dislike of political elite. This public image of the forces is kept in very high esteem by the army while working out its plans for various contingencies in aid of civil power.
While there is no denying the fact that the army is the most organized institution holding the country together in the difficult time of our history with unflinching public support, question needs to be asked as to what are the factors that keep the armed forces organized and efficient which may serve as model for other state institutions to emulate? One, fortunately the armed forces continue to remain free from political interference in its promotions, postings and other functional domains. It has survived few such attempts in the past which also attracted greater public rebuke. Second, the armed forces scrupulously maintains a very high standard of merit in its selection, training, and promotion regimes. I would like to illustrate this with an example while drawing a parallel. Pakistan currently has 85 ambassadors across the world out of whom 15 are from outside the Foreign Service cadre. 8 out of the 15 are ex three and two star generals offered by respective services after well thought out considerations while the remaining 7 are politically selected.
What are the prerequisites and selection criteria for political selection of our ambassadors I leave it to the readers? On the other hand, the selection of a Defense Attaché (BPS 19 and 20) in the armed forces is finally decided at the desk of respective services chief after a very laborious process preceding it. None other than our ambassadors would be in a better position to comment on the quality of these officers in respective embassies. Majority of these officers generally make it to two or three star generals in their own time. Besides, even final selection of an officer equivalent to BPS 17 for foreign assignments including courses is done through the pen of respective services chiefs. Three, with zero interference from outside, the armed forces as an institution is completely alien to any ethno sectarian biases. Any commander never takes into consideration the ethno sectarian lineage while exercising his command thus invariably enjoys complete trust of his command. Kinks of such biases displayed at any tier is ruthlessly handled putting a lasting seal on the individual’s future progression.
Four, Malpractices and corruption eats an institution from within. While no tall claims can be made, the armed forces as an institution is relatively considered clean. This is primarily due to institutional approach to financial management denying all possible opportunities besides extremely strict accountability and punitive measures available and practised within the institution. Five, the armed forces enjoy inherent organizational strength and flexibility to respond to any unforeseen contingencies and challenges. This has been amply demonstrated in response to various natural calamities like floods and earthquakes in the recent and distant past. The war on terror has further enhanced the army’s potential to handle internal threats besides adding to its battle hardiness though at a great cost.
Countries are efficiently run by strong institutions. In our country due to non- existent local bodies system there is greater public pressure on parliamentarians for meeting their demands. These pushes and pulls lead to unwarranted political interference in our civil institutions thus leading to poor recruitment and subsequently below standard performance by the institutions. A brief resume of the internal processes within the armed forces for maintaining its various regimes leading to its institutional efficiency and better public image would surely have been of interest to our civil institutional and political leadership responsible for public services. Total de-politicisation of our institutions and strict adherence to merit alone holds key if we have to improve our public image commensurate to one enjoyed by armed forces.
— The writer, a retired Maj Gen, is DG Pakistan Institute for Conflict & Security Studies, an independent think-tank based in Islamabad
http://pakobserver.net/the-armys-high-image/
@SherDil007 @war&peace @GreenFalcon @Indus Falcon @Khafee @Morse_Code @El_Swordsmen @Farah Sohail @PakSword
@PaklovesTurkiye
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