On the ropes

In the wake of consistent ‘army bashing’ by the politicians and the media in the past few weeks, the military high command has been forced to come up with a detailed response. It is obvious that our armed forces are on the ropes ever since Osama bin Laden was killed by US forces in Abbottabad early May.

So much has happened since then that merely a well-argued riposte by the corps commanders will not be able to change perceptions overnight. The statement has blamed some quarters, without actually naming them, for their “perceptual biases to deliberately run down the armed forces and particularly the army in an effort to drive a wedge between the army, different organs of the state and more seriously the people of Pakistan.”

It is however obvious that the object of the army’s wrath is the PML(N) leadership led by Nawaz Sharif himself who, in unison with other party stalwarts, has led a well coordinated campaign against the armed forces for their perceived acts of omission and commission since the Abbottabad incident. The invasive role of the military in Pakistan since its very inception has also come under severe scrutiny. This is particularly hurtful for General Kayani, who has consistently kept himself out of active politics to an extent that he, unlike his predecessors, meticulously avoids meeting politicians except those holding office.

The PML(N) vote bank also represents a good chunk of the core constituency of the army in Central Punjab and the Salt Range. Despite this, Nawaz Sharif for his own reasons has taken a tough stance against the military. Although a product of late General Zia-ul-Haq and his cohort generals, the PML(N) supremo as prime minister never got along with any of the military chiefs and now considers the generals part of the problem rather than the solution.

While in exile, perhaps a metamorphosis has taken place in Sharif’s thinking. He is not only critical of the generals but also of the declared mantra and strategic paradigm of the military. At odds with most of the rank and file of his party men, including his brother Shahbaz Sharif, he no longer considers India an enemy in the traditional Punjabi sense. In fact, now he is in favour of a visa-free regime and free trade between the two still-hostile nations of South Asia.

Nawaz celebrated Yaum-e-Takbeer on 28 May, the day Pakistan became a nuclear power, with much fanfare. It is doubtful whether he still believes in the bomb, like some of his backers really do. For the first time in the country’s history, the military is at odds with a mainstream Punjab-based opposition party, rather than destabilising a sitting government.

This all should be good news for Messrs Zardari and Gilani. Instead of the ruling coalition confronting the army or clamouring for control over the armed forces, Nawaz Sharif and his stalwarts are washing their dirty laundry for them.

The role of the media (in military bashing) also came under discussion in the corps commanders meeting. The manner in which the armed forces have been treated as fair game both in the print and electronic media in the past six weeks or so is unprecedented. The ISI has been singled out for the wrath of television anchors some of whom till recently were considered apologists for the army and its intelligence agencies.

The corps commanders till now maintained a stony silence in the face of this criticism. Even the statement released by the ISPR sounds a bit sanctimonious. It expresses hope that “all of us should take cognizance of this unfortunate trend and put an end to it.” But apart from agreeing to defer to the ultimate findings of the stillborn commission on Abbottabad, there is not a word of regret or remorse at the unsavoury happenings.

Apart from the Abbottabad incident, the gross negligence shown by the Navy at PNS Mehran should have meant that a few heads will roll. But none of that has happened. Further adding fuel to the fire, the brutal and till now unexplained killing of their colleague Salim Shahzad has further incensed the media persons. The fact that the ISI sleuths are being blamed for the brutal killing should have been incentive enough for the agency to find the real killers if they were distinct from the ISI, as claimed.

Despite this, there are nuances in the statement that in a way augur a slow but a perceptible change in the military’s thinking. It stated that although the army was following a well thought out campaign, it has not ruled out operations in N Waziristan to be undertaken with “political consensus”, a la the operation in Swat. By calling upon “the brave people of NWA” to evict all foreigners from their soil, General Kayani has declared that it was wrong in principle to allow others “to use our land for fighting their battles.”

If the army actually walks the talk and is willing to enforce this principle by its force de frappe, this will be a paradigm shift. Significantly, any mention of its India-specific paradigm was pleasantly missing from the narrative. Despite a perennial cash crunch being faced by the Army, recommending to the government that US funds meant for the military be diverted towards economic aid is a first. Perhaps, this offer is an attempt at damage control.

It is evident from the statement that relations with the US remain tenuous. Although the corps commanders have declared that drone attacks are not acceptable “under any circumstances,” we all know that this ultimate high-tech weapon will continue to be used by the US with increasing frequency and ferocity. Complicity of our civilian leadership and the tactical inability to stop them is also quite evident.

The army has asked the US to drastically cut down its troops stationed in the country. Most of them were here ostensibly to train the FC in anti-terrorism combat but Pakistan has always eyed them with suspicion for spying in the garb of training. Similarly, the corps commanders have unequivocally stated that intelligence cooperation with the US will be strictly on the basis of reciprocity and complete transparency. With the pervasive trust deficit between the ISI and CIA, this is easier said than done.

The army has reaffirmed its support for the democratic system and has spoken of a tolerant society with no room for terrorism. It can be argued by its detractors that with its already bruised and battered image, it has no option but to. But this is a myopic and self-defeating view. There has to be engagement to defeat the hydra-headed monster of terrorism and obscurantism. It is time to unite rather than divide. Any other approach will be throwing the baby out with the bath water.

The writer is Editor, Pakistan Today.