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?
To Haroon:
I agree with you mate on points 1,2 and 3.
However, pt 4, I cant agree with. We do need ISI but what we need is a new generation of spies in this ISI. One that is unattached to its past. Every country needs a spy agency, and Pak is no different.
@ Roxio.
Roxio says: “There are many national interest decisions that the Army chief takes for the country but you and I would never know because of their sensitivity.”
Funny logic…. if you and I do not know they happen… then, maybe, they do not happen!
Everything else in your comment is speculation and rumor mongering. And therefore does not deserve an answer.
All of the rest is NOT about fact but what YOU think. And you can think whatever you want.
When you have a half-reasonable argument that can be based on any intellectually sound argument instead of your own biases and likes, come back and maybe we can have a conversation.
1. I want General Kayani to be the Chief Executive of Pakistan.
2. No enemy of Pakistan has destroyed Pakistan more than the people of Waziristan. I want the Pakistani troops to withdraw from FATA and deploy on the FATA-NWFP border. We should fence the FATA border. Believe me guys, FATA is the Big C. It’s incurable Cancel. Let’s stop this cancer from spreading to other parts of the body by cutting this infected part, or else we’ll lose the entire body (Pakistan).
@Haroon
Funny comment by Haroon saying ISI be dissolved.
Were it not for ISI,Pakistan would have long become a happy playground for Mossad and RAW and US would have installed another Hamid Karzai as president.
There are many national interest decisions that the Army chief takes for the country but you and I would never know because of their sensitivity.
Secondly without a professional watchdog,Asif Zardari would long have taken away whatever was left in the national coffers.
Lets not forget he made two failed attempts to bring ISI under Rahman Malik’s control.If that were to happen,I would assume a nightmare scenario for for the country
What I would like to see on where the military heads in Pakistan is:
1. Military stays away from politics.
2. Politicians stay away from military and let it become a professional force again.
3. Current civil and military leadership serve out their terms without interference from the other so that the process can start getting on track.
4. ISI ultimately dissolved (its not really needed).