And the need to rein in over-enthusiastic individuals
There can be no two opinions about maintaining the dignity of the armed forces which keep round the clock vigilance to defend the national borders. Misunderstandings are however likely to appear in a period of transition from military supremacy to civilian supremacy, all the more so when major institutions are redefining the extent of their scope. What is needed is a delicate balance which cannot be achieved without reining in over-enthusiastic individuals and big mouths.
What COAS Raheel Sharif said during an address at the SSG training centre indicates a sense of hurt. There is a need on the part of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to tread more carefully than he did in the past while dealing with the army. Even more important is to keep on a tight leash the less responsible elements around him, some of whom were instrumental in exacerbating the civil-military tensions in the past. The way an overzealous and secretive interior minister is trying to win over the Taliban has created a perception of the government having capitulated to the terrorists. The way the Taliban prisoners were released led to an unhappy situation where the Prime Minister House was saying one thing, the interior ministry another and the tribal administration still another. This strengthened the impression that one hand of the government doesn’t know what the other is doing. The Prime Minister House had to subsequently issue a statement rectifying the position taken in the earlier statement. Soon it appeared that the army which had suffered heavy casualties in its efforts to nab the terrorists was not consulted before the release. This has created an anomalous situation where the opposition is siding on the issue with the army while the advocates of capitulation have gathered around the government. There is a need on the part of the PM to rein in the overenthusiastic supporters of talks.
The army needs to realise that a handful of black sheep in its own ranks have played no small part in sullying the name of the institution. Included in the category are not only the Bonapartist military rulers but also those who misused their authority, overstepped laws and those who are widely seen to have looted national wealth. It would raise the image of the army instead of downgrading it if it was to welcome their treatment in accordance with the law.
While Gen Sharif might have had genuine complaints the best way would have been to take them up with the prime minister confidentially instead of going public on them. The country can ill-afford any perception of division between the armed forces and the government. This would adversely affect the economy and scare away the investors.