What’s this fuss about “Difa-e-Pakistan”?

This is with reference to “Difa-e-Pakistan” event being organised in Karachi. Let me say at the outset that the defence of this country is the sacred job being performed by the Armed Forces of Pakistan. Any other organisation that lays claim to the responsibility of defending the country can only do so when either the government or the army is no more capable of doing it. Is this the case?

In any sovereign, welfare and democratic state people would rather show willingness and demonstrate their complete confidence in the ability of their armed forces. Not in Pakistan. Failed politicians, organisations with tinted credibility, banned lashkars with extremist ideologies, turncoats and religious fundamentalists all have got together under the umbrella of ‘Difa-e-Pakistan’ to blackmail not only the government and the Pakistan military but also the world community.

By holding rallies in the major cities this organisation sends a message loud and clear that they are part of the defence equation and the future of any change in defence policy will be subject to their consent. Is the civil and military ruling elite willing to be blackmailed?

Surely, the drama of ‘Difa-e-Pakistan’ that we are being forced to witness is only possible with the consent of the army. Is the army in alliance? Is this the new face of the “strategic depth”? If this is so, have we not learnt from the consequences of such alliances before? Is the abandoned alternative again being allowed to resurface? Which national values and interests that we as a nation hold so dear that cannot be protected and guarded by our national army?

Why do we need this bunch of hate crime committers and extremist ideology promoters? These self-proclaimed defenders of Pakistan can only raise funds and develop and grow into a substantial force only by riding on the back of the army. Else, a state that believes in reform, freedom and progression would take concrete measures to stop such a parallel force from evolving and mushrooming.

Interpreting the threats to the security of the state is the prerogative of the civil and military elite. The constitution empowers them to formulate a defence policy based on adversary’s capabilities and intentions. Those people and organisations that are not part of the ruling civil and military elite can only have opinions that can in no way challenge the way forward the ruling elite determines. That way forward can be in the form of military alliances or partnership in the global war against terrorism.

It is the job of the government of the day to use military as an instrument of policy to secure and safeguard our national interests. Surely, like any other nation, these interests include survival, security, power, prosperity, freedom, peace and an acceptable and functional ideology acceptable by a majority of people. Seen in this context the “Difa-e-Pakistan” can at best throw spanner in the works of national security building. Such outfits should be banned and debarred from holding any public gatherings. But this could only happen if we have a government that takes national security as a serious issue.

LT COL (retd) MUHAMMAD ALI EHSAN

Karachi