Why now, is the world so concerned about Pakistani “isolation”?
International isolation of Pakistan seems the most favorite topic of discussion now-a-days for the analysts particularly belonging to Pakistan. Every day one finds so many TV talk-shows and so many write-ups in newspapers on the same topic. Why this sudden hue and cry over Pakistan’s isolation? From where did come the idea that Pakistan is going to be isolated internationally? It seems that this thought has some connection with Pakistan Army’s operation against the terrorists, the Operation Zarb-e-Azb. It is also a fact that as the date of the retirement of COAS General Raheel Sharif is getting closer; some of our friends are trying to create confusions with reference to the Operation Zarb-e-Azb. Here one thing must be kept in mind that plans and programs of any army all over the world never revolve around the likes or dislikes of its commander-in-chief. Every army works on a line of action decided after very careful analysis and after seeing all pros and cons of the consequences of an action. In every military set-up there are different think tanks consisting upon senior military officials, intelligence officers, security experts, strategic planners and people with a very vast knowledge of geo-political affairs. The government of the day supervises the whole process. Be it USA or UK or even India, the only aim and objective of an army is to defend the geographical and ideological boundaries of its country. The responsibility of the chief commander of any army is to keep his soldiers and officers united and to make sure that the plans decided by the think-tanks are being acted upon properly. With the change of commander, the philosophy never changes. So be it General Raheel Sharif or anyone else the commander of Pakistan Army, the working philosophy would remain the same.
As far as the operation Zarb-e-Azb is concerned, it was no doubt a need of the time. Different terrorist groups had become so strong before commencement of this operation that nothing was safe from their hegemonic designs. From schools to the markets, from parks to the parliament houses, there was always a fear of terrorist activity. Life on the whole was at stake. Many important places and cities had become no-go areas even for the local people. Everyone was in a state of depression and disappointment. In such a horrible situation, the army was left with only one choice; to launch a grand operation against the terrorists. Under the guidance and command of General Raheel Sharif, the Pakistan army did a marvelous and miraculous job. The government of Pakistan provided all possible support to the Pakistan Army for successful completion of the Operation Zarb-e-Azb. But internationally this success did not receive a very warm welcome. Instead of appreciation and encouragement, objections and sarcastic comments filled with doubts and suspicions were ‘showered’ upon Pakistan. Our dearest ‘Friend in need’ the USA kept on singing the old song of Do More Do More. India also did all possible efforts for making this operation suspicious. It seemed that the international forces were in favour of this operation but wanted to be the commanders of this operation themselves. Some of our ‘well-wishers’ were hopeful that this operation would end-up in shape of a horrible civil war. More important thing is that all these forces did not remain confined just to hoping and dreaming; they practically did all that was possible to materialise their dreams and hopes. In other words, to counter the Operation Zarb-e-Azb, another unseen operation was launched with a new name of Operation Anti-Zarb-e-Azb. The western and Indian media also played a very effective role in this counter operation. On one hand the security forces of Pakistan were fighting the menace of terrorism and on the other hand the western and Indian media operatives were busy in doing propaganda against this fight. Books and articles written against the efforts of Pakistan Army were given undue projection, seminars and conferences were organised to malign the image of Pakistan and Pakistan Army and above all, the writers, analysts and speakers with a ‘marvelous talent’ of defaming Pakistan Army were treated as VVIPs.
I remember a report on a book review ceremony held at the South Asia Institute Columbia University, New York a few months back. The name of the book was ‘The Army and Democracy: Military Politics in Pakistan’. The ‘worthy’ writer did all his best to blame and defame Pakistan Army and to malign its efforts against the menace of terrorism. The remaining efforts were done by those who were the speakers at the ceremony and those who arranged that ceremony. Most of the speakers tried to convince the audience that it is a sheer misconception of Pakistan Army that USA and India are responsible for nurturing Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Baloch insurgents. It was also said that Pakistani Generals know a little about the Constitution and Democracy. A speaker at the ceremony was of the opinion that the National Defence University Islamabad is teaching the army officers that politicians are incompetent and cannot handle security issues and foreign relations. In short it was not a book review ceremony; it was an activity for ‘bashing Pakistan Army’ supervised by a renowned American university. The same activity of bashing Pakistan Army is still going on with the same zeal and zest but with a different title; now the title of the activity is ‘Pakistan’s International Isolation’.
