Adil Najam
The military is never really out of the news in Pakistan. Nor is it ever far from the center of Pakistan politics. But recent event have brought the question of where the Pakistan military is headed into even sharper relief than usual.
There is much speculation – maybe too much speculation – on where the Pakistan military is headed in the coming days and weeks.
There are some who argue that following the attack on the GHQ the military will act even more swiftly on extremists in Pakistan – whether in the Waziristan region or in Southern Punjab. Others feel that the furore created by the Kerry-Lugar Bill has so poisoned the civil-military relationship in Pakistan that even the immediate future of Pakistan’s political displacements may (again) be in doubt. Yet others would argue that while the tensions are all real, the military is in that phase that comes after each prolonged period of military rule when it prefers to remain in the political background while it consolidates its public image.
My own current sense is that there may be some truth in all three scenarios. Possibly in a combination of the three. Of course, there could be other directions in the mix too. What do you think? Where is the Pakistan military headed in the next many days? And what does that mean about where Pakistan is headed?
@Nadeen Ahsan
So you want Gen Kiyani to be sacked for expressing his opinion ala Gen Jehangir Karamat ? Wow you folks never learn from history do you ? Keep your anti-army hatred in check, many of the dark episodes in Pakistan’s history have an equal civilian involvement in them.
Further elaborating on Nadeem Ahsan’s comment, the nation and its civilian & religous leaders must decide what direction Pakistan will take before they can direct which way Army is headed. Army is the only organized and disciplined organization. Rest are elements of disunity, chaos and near anarchy
Pakistan Army is a state within a state which is only interested in looking after its own institutional interests. It sugar-coats them as “the national interest”.
The generals will take over the government if it suits them, and they will stay out of government if it suits them.
Ayub, Yahya, Zia, Musharraf, the separation of East Pakistan, sectarianism, the murder of Bhutto, the murder of Bugti, and international pariah status are just a few of the gifts that Pakistan Army has given to the people whose money pays its salaries.
Towards eradicating terrorism more aggressively than ever before.
I dont think they’ll disturb the democratic set up.
More comments from the ATP Facebook Page:
– “Noone hates Army. Everyone is asking the Army to mind their own business:)”
– “N hates army. Joke of century. N took birth their, grown up their……and now again meeting btw shabaz n kiyani give raise to issue of kerry logar bill……….People knows what is their agenda now!”
– “For as long as fickle politicians like Shabaz Sharif and Ch Nisar keep meeting Army Chief in a covert fashion; @Moeen your assessment above will remain theoretical. It is such politicians who first drag the Army into politics and then vehemently condemn & bash the ‘fauji intervention’ at every forum. Unfortunately, you can only fool some of the people some of the time”
– “pak army ix da key for Our sUrvivAl…!!”
– “and so is good spelling.”
– “Mr. Asif Ali Zardari previously known as Mr. 10%, passed the most of his life in JAIL on the cases of corruption and when came into power eliminate all of his cases using his power. Mr. Rehman Malik the world top corrupt man in terms of National Security Interest. And the good news is that they are our leaders whome we have to listen to and whome we have to follow like a blind man holding hand of someone to let him cross the road. We are blind persons and are on a road of crises and these great leaders are letting us cross the road and telling us all of the time that there is nothing which would harm us from anywhere.
In this whole big scenario, Pakistan Army and ISI as a system appears to monitor everything being the defender to the National Security. When these politician are just sleeping the Army along with ISI, Rangers and FC are doing their job along with there job as well. They are not leading the Politics but just watching at it.
People suggested here that Army should mind his job only and not intervene into any other system. But why not just give a hand of applause to Pakistan Army that how briliantly they are MASHALLAH minding their own job of protecting the country and National Security interests as well as having a watch on these politicians who has got the history of selling their own mothers on a replacement of money.”
– “border defence is not the only thing that army should concern.
the main objective is to defence the nation and the country.
ager mulk ka plitical system damm ho aur awam buri tarha piss rahay hu tu aisay system ka koi faida nahi tab Army he ko kuch karna parta hai aur jaahan tak yeh kehtay hai loog k KAISA LAGAY K ARMY MEETINGS MAI FORIEGN POLICIES discuss hu tu aap sub loogo ko yeh jaan kar fakhar hoga k hamri army is kaam k liyey aik politician say ziyada acha act karsaktay hai.
Be realistic ap ko ap k political system nai kiya diya? siwaiy is k k aap ki awam ko atay (flour) khareednay k liyey marna parraaha hai?”
– “Write another comment…pehlay hum galiya daitay thay ayub khan ko jub wo chala gaya tu us hi ko pukartay rahay
hum nay media ki wrong full heart enemy ki wajha say musharraf k khilaf baat ki for no reason just for good say in our gathering but aj hum phgir us he shaks ki taraf dekh rahay hai kiyaa aap ko nahi lagta k pehlay ka door(era) is door(era) say behtar tha???????????????”
– “I think we have to see the affect the involvement of COAS when our beloved democratic leader was dragging his feet in reinstating CJ Ifthikhar. I think the best bet for us would be an army which does not impose Martial Law but nudges our elected leaders when they get wayward which I think Gen Kayani has done now!!!!!”
– “I think first we need to sort out where is nation headed. If the nation and its civilian leaders have deficit of vision and are not clear about its direction how can they set any goals for the army? We celebrate when army takes on power and within a short period become highly democratic striving for an elected Governemnt followed by disillusionment with civilian rulers due to corruption and incompetence, street demonstrations, anarchy, and once again wishing for a strong person to rule. And the cycle is repeated.”
– “i think ARMY shoul GIFT us some thing special on 10th year of sucessfull miltary control”