What’s in a name?

Perhaps change in nomenclature shall make the CCNC more proactive!

By deciding to convert the erstwhile Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) into a broader Cabinet Committee on National Security, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has somewhat acceded to the long standing demand of successive military chiefs to form a consultative body to discuss matters of national security. However, yet again he has thwarted moves to constitute a National Security Council.

A favourite hobbyhorse of the military, the NSC was finally formed in 2004 and given constitutional cover by former military strongman Pervez Musharraf. Now it will have to be formally scrapped through an act of parliament.

Former army chiefs Gen Aslam Beg, Gen Waheed Kakar and Gen Jahangir Karamat, all were particularly enthusiastic about forming such a body. Interestingly civilian governments have always seen such moves as transparent attempts to formally establish the suzerainty of the ubiquitous establishment over elected governments.

The DCC was always the halfway house. But Mian Nawaz Sharif in his previous tenures as prime minister studiously avoided summoning its meetings. In the backdrop of our obsession with national security, perhaps after a change in nomenclature this supra body, will become more proactive.

The outgoing army chief Gen Parvez Kayani has never openly lobbied for formation of an NSC. Nonetheless some analysts perceived to be close to the GHQ have pressed the need for it in the backdrop of our precarious national security conundrum.

Sharif armed with his fresh mandate has finally buried the idea by creating a halfway house in the form of the Defence Committee on National Security. Thereby the prime minister and members of his cabinet maintain their control, at least within the body itself, at the same time providing a formal entity to the ubiquitous establishment to discuss matters pertaining to defence and national security.

Notwithstanding the nomenclature, Pakistan’s national security remains precarious as never before. For the first time since its inception, internal threat with external dimensions is seriously jeopardizing the very existence of the state.

The CCNS ne DCC has decided to talk with the Taliban who decide to lay down their arms. It has also reiterated the government’s resolve to fight with all the might of the state, those who do not abjure the use of force.

This sounds good. But whether both the government as well as the military will be able to walk the talk is too early to call. Despite the heavy human toll, our resolve, albeit not necessarily weak has been somewhat confused – to say the least.

Even now some of the jihadi groups are comfortably ensconced amongst us. Perhaps our cat’s paws against India’s aggressive designs they are allowed to move with impunity. This cherry picking has made it quite difficult to differentiate between the so-called good and the bad guys.

As a natural corollary the decision to move against terrorists of different hues and colours ensconced in our badlands remains a subject of intense debate. India remaining an existential threat we must concentrate our troops on the eastern borders. So the logic goes.

The DCC also took note of the precarious situation on the line of control (LoC) and resolved ‘to use all military and diplomatic channels to prevent ceasefire violations‘. No surprise here, since the last few weeks have seen a continuous slide in India Pakistan relations.

It all started with killing of a few Indian soldiers on the LoC. Till now we do not know for sure who the culprit was. The Indians after initial confusion blame it on the Pakistan Army, which of course denies its role.

If the so-called non-state actors were involved, it makes matters even worse. Having already played havoc in the country, such elements now can create mayhem on our borders. This can have serious repercussions for our national security.

New Delhi’s military and propaganda machine having literally gone ballistic, India-Pakistan relations have been like ever the first casualty. The Indian army no longer is hiding its aggressive designs has made a Pakistani captain on Siachen sector as its latest victim.

Sharif has never hidden his enthusiasm for having better relations with New Delhi. Even before he was elected he made overtures to our estranged neighbour. The Indian prime minister’s special emissary SK Lambha called on him at his Raiwind abode. Retired diplomat Sheheryar Khan was hurriedly appointed special emissary on India-Pakistan back channel diplomacy and dispatched to New Delhi within the first few weeks of the PML-N government.

As a result of the incursions on LoC, this new-found bonhomie has taken a hit. If the objective of elements on both sides of the divide was to sabotage the process even before it had begun they have succeeded way beyond their expectations.

Manmohan Singh is a doubly lame duck prime minister. Owing to his advanced age he will not be the candidate for premiership of the Congress led UPA alliance in the general elections due before May next year. The Congress winning the next elections is threatened by an increasingly belligerent BJP with hardliner anti -Muslim stance. And with declared anti-Pakistan intent, Narindera Modi is the BJP frontrunner to land the prime minister’s office.

In the process both the much-touted Nawaz-Manmohan summit on the sidelines of the General Assembly of the UN next month as well as foreign secretaries level talks between the two countries are in jeopardy. Sharif is keen on offering the proverbial other cheek to cool tempers. But the unappreciative Indians not humoured by the gesture are pressing on.

If Sharif and Manmohan are able to meet next month at all, tensions could be somewhat diffused. However, in the present scenario to lay down a framework for friendly relations between the two belligerent nuclear-armed neighbours will be impossible.

This does not mean efforts to establish peace with New Delhi should be abandoned. But for a serious detente things will have to wait until a new government is ensconced in New Delhi next year.

Meanwhile, with a new army chief in place before November and a newly formed Cabinet Committee on National Security (CCNS) a lot of introspection and discussion is needed to review our present security paradigm and national security policies

The writer is Editor, Pakistan Today.