Gen Jahangir Karamat in his recent article “Examining the core issues” has come to the support of the army against the criticism on the contents of the press note issued by ISPR on the conclusion of 139th Corps Commanders Conference. Pakistan’s armed forces and intelligence agencies are faced with extraordinary challenges, especially those created by terrorism ridden environment.
Hostile elements mainly in the aftermath of OBL assassination and attack on Mehran base are creating doubts in the mind of the people so that Pakistani people may lose faith in their armed forces to defend the interests of the country.
Gen Karamat in his analysis has said nothing new. This conference is primarily focused on professional matters and therefore its contents should be released to the formations only. Such statements are being considered as interference in civil domain and that should be avoided.
Armed forces should under no circumstances give an impression that they still dominate the country’s politics. The nation is proud of armed forces’ sacrifices and fully back them in spite of their failures on many fronts. Let for a change the impression should be washed away that country’s affairs are still being run by army.
Pakistan armed forces should protect and safeguard national sovereignty and let the political government come up with an imaginative policy to satisfy the questions of redefining the rules of engagement with US to fight the menace of terrorism.
MUKHTAR AHMED
Lahore