Pakistan’s military has had a bad couple of months. Unless it rethinks its priorities, expect tactical gains to lead to strategic disaster.
For the Pakistani military and Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, it has been a spring of discontent.
In March, Kayani and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha became the focus of criticism from hardliners inside and outside the military for their decision to release CIA contractor Raymond Davis after he killed two Pakistanis in Lahore.
Things got even worse at the beginning of May, when a US Navy Seals raid showed that Osama bin Laden was living in Abbottabad, deep within the Pakistani heartland. Both inside Pakistan and overseas, the Pakistani military was seen as either complicit – through the hiding of bin Laden, or in the raid that killed him – or incompetent, for failing to realize he was there in the first place. Calls grew for the two to step down.
In the middle of last month, the trial of Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian accused of involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, began in Chicago. In the court of international public opinion, the ISI was effectively Rana’s co-defendant.
A week later, it was the military that was back in the spotlight, when terrorists waged a sophisticated assault on a Pakistani naval base in Karachi, destroying two US-supplied naval reconnaissance planes.
Finally, at the end of May, Syed Saleem Shahzad, a Pakistani reporter who wrote on the jihadist infiltration of the Pakistani Navy, was killed. Some have alleged it was the ISI’s work.
This series of developments has marked a dramatic reversal of fortune for an army chief who had previously earned praise since taking office in 2007 for managing the army’s strategic withdrawal from politics, managing to strengthen ties with both the United States and anti-American Pakistani nationalists, and restoring public respect for an institution that had seen its name sullied by his predecessor, Gen. Pervez Musharraf.
Last October, Kayani led the Pakistani delegation at strategic dialogue talks in Washington, where he met with US President Barack Obama. Indeed, his star had risen so high that even some Indian commentators were promoting the idea of opening up a direct channel with the Pakistani military.
How things have changed.
Photo Credit: Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
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Khalid Bajwa
Pakistan should be honest and sincere to US, if it really wants to see and end to this war on terror. if such an ally is not sincere to the other a proper solution may not be accomplished
ARSALAN
Why USA is trying to seeking help if he knows our military is incapable to do any thing????If Pakistani politicians are bad then why you people thinks then whole Pakistan is cancer for the world.
Can anybody tells me who destroys two cities of Japan for its nuclear tests???
Why Israel can have nuclear weapons and Iran can,t have even for peaceful purposes?
If any body have answer please reply me at arsalansaqib1009@gmail.com
Dr.Masood Tariq
Pakistan is the World’s Sixth Most-Populous and Second Muslim-Majority Country and also has the Second-Largest Shi’a Population in the World. About 97% of the Pakistanis are Muslim. Pakistan has the Seventh Largest Standing Armed Force and is the only Muslim-Majority Nation to possess Nuclear Weapons. It is designated as a Major Non-NATO ally of the United States and a strategic ally of China. It is a Founding Member of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and a Member of the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, Next Eleven Economies and the G20 Developing Nations.
However, as a matter of fact, currently the Pakistan is hanging like a Pendulum between U.S.A and China along with many Regional and Supporting Players due to Geo-Political Position in War of Domination, because of, Communication and Energy Corridors, Geographical presence at Door Step of China at North, Central Asian States through Afghanistan at North West and Arabian Sea at South. Therefore, neither the U.S.A is able to isolate the Pakistan like Iraq and not be able to capture like Afghanistan. As, this type of adventure will provoke the interests of other Players of Game, particularly China and Russia, thus, it may initiate the 3rd World War. However due to the Game of Domination between International Players, During this Decade, either the Pakistan will be The Asian Tiger with Strong Institutions and Political Parties (Most probably) or a Failure State with Strong Personalities and War Lords. (Remote chance)
As, the Russia was already attempting to reach The Hot Water but now China is also willing for it by 2030 and from 2020 China will start the Advancement towards The Hot Water and Arabian Sea, till 2020 China will Work to choose and secure the Corridors. However, owing to Chinese Role in Pakistan since 60’s, People of Pakistan trust the China as a Faithful Friend. Consequently; People of Pakistan are not ready to support any action against Chinese Interest, as they did Against Russia for Decades.
Furthermore, People of Pakistan are also fading up by the Arrogant, Autocratic, Dictatorial, Dogmatic and Tyrannical Rulers as well as Crooked, Corrupt, Dishonest, Dummy, Puppet and Pseudo Politicians, along with their Masters, Patrons and Facilitators (Mostly the PAK-US establishment). Therefore, it is a Hard Time for PAK-US Establishment and Pakistani Politicians to revise their Policy, to make it according to the Will and Wish of Pakistani People.
Pakistan is facing a Hard Time of Life due to Communication Corridor for Russia and China. Therefore, if China is ready to reach The Hot Water in near future then Pakistan will be a Battle Ground instead of Communication Corridor, primarily the region of Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will happen to be the main target. If not then, it is not suitable for U.S.A to break or even reduce the Strategic Relationship with Pakistan. Because without Geographical support of Pakistan, U.S.A will lose the Control over Afghanistan and Russia will again advance towards The Hot Water. Yet any Plan of U.S.A to convert Pakistan into a Battle Ground will Force or Facilitate the Pakistan to change the camp. Otherwise, Pakistan will prefer to maintain the Strategic Relationship with U.S.A.
However, due to Geo-Political importance of Pakistan in War of Regional Domination and Psychosomatic Aptitude of Pakistani People, at any time and every type of Political Proxy Facilitation to counter the attempts of Destabilization and Insurgency in Pakistan, at National and International stage, by the U.S Opposing Players; Especially China or Russia, will burst the Situation. Because, due to Domination and Control of Opportunists, Hypocrites and Power as well as Money Hunger Persons in Governance and Politics, Public is already under threat of Administrative Victimization and Judicial Injustice along with Economical Disaster and Social Polarization.
Therefore, Institutionally Collapsed and Economically Distorted Pakistan, along with, Socially Polarized, Administratively Victimized and Politically Deprived People of Pakistan due to Terrorism, Fascism and Nepotism, as a result of Inefficiency, Misconduct and Corruptive Practices of Dogmatic and Tyrannical Rulers as well as Puppet and Pseudo Politicians in Conjunction with their Masters, Patrons and Facilitators, may Turn Out to be a Major Political and Moral Hazard for U.S.A at National and International Level. Defiantly, it will be Consequential to the War of Regional Domination, along with Control over Afghanistan.
Although, for Game of Domination between International Players, the suitable option is, the Will and Wish of “People of Pakistan” represented by the Political Leadership. Furthermore, the Sovereignty, Integrity and National Interests of Pakistan are An Internal Subject, related to the Qualities of Nation and Leadership. But, due to Un-organized and Non-systemized Political Parties, since from Liaquat Ali Khan era to Present Government, Dictatorial and Puppet Rulers were Sweet Choice for U.S.A, to secure the interests in Pakistan and to keep Russia away from The Hot Water.
However, now People of Pakistan are fading up. They are furious and frustrated about the Dictatorial Rulers and Puppet Leaders due to negligence of Public Affairs, Interests and Problems. Therefore in future, Atmosphere and Circumstances will not support the Dictatorial Rulers and Puppet Politicians, absolutely. Because, in future era Game of Domination between U.S.A, Russia and China will Enhance in North Africa, Middle East and Central Asia. Therefore, Pakistani Politics at Public ground will start to dominate the National and International Issues too. Due to Geo-Political importance of Pakistan; it will facilitate the “People of Pakistan” and “Major National Political Players” To make Pakistan an Asian Tiger through well-built State Institutions along with Properly Organized and Systemized Political Parties.
Nevertheless, None-democratic and Un-constitutional Actions by the Establishment or None-Political and Un-ethical Activities by the National and Provincial Level Politicians along with Un-organized and None-systemized Political Parties, will Abrupt the Situation and Lead the Country towards a Failure and Malfunctioning State by way of Strong Personalities and War Lords. Because, in past era due to Social Polarization, Administrative Victimization and Economical Disintegration, Lower and Middle Class Peaceful, Law-abiding and Honest People of Pakistan have suffered a lot. But now they are going to be Immune and Reactive. It is Visible from their Attitude of Ignorance and Not-willingly participating in Political and Governance Activities.
Whereas, the Dictatorial Rulers, Elite Class Feudal Lords, Opportunist and Hypocrite Politicians along with their companions were the Advantageous Lot by means of Dividing and Disappointing the Nation through Cultivating and Harvesting the Regional, Ethnic, Sectarian and Locality Oriented Emotions and Interests. But now they are going to be Fragile and Filthy. It is Noticeable from their Lack of Attention in Public Politics and Governance Activities, due to Public Embarrassment and Feeling of Ashamed by their Political and Governance Character.
captainjohann
Dr.Masood,
A brilliant take on the actual potential of Pakistan as a nation.But why it has not realized it? You can blame RAW,RAMA,MOSSAD AND NOW CIA.But the truth is different. Your army has been a mercenary force for Saudies and Americans by killing 10,000 Palestinian Muslims ( in aid of King Hussein of Jordan under Brig Zia, the Muslim General).That General Musharaff invaded Kargil is now under western instructions is clear from the 50 pound notes he pays as tip whenever he visits any restaurant in London or Dubai.The Raymond Davies release and continuing Drone strikes from Shamsi point to the covert part of the relationship. As anti/American fervour increases in Pakistan, the Army doesnot want to take RESPONSIBILITY for pro American deeds of Army and very cleverly putting Zardari as the mascot!That today Americans under Obama want re election and so the Pakistani Army has got the “good Taliban” a piece of power in Afghanistan and also withdrawal of American forces so that Good taliban will rule.But your nation just cannot understand that “Muslim Umma” is the real cause of your problem and will continue to be in future unless you learn from East pakistan(now Bangladesh) or Indonesia which have discarded this.
shahji
Dear captain:
Pakistan and Pakistani will not blame any one from now on of their shortcomings. They will only blame them self for under performance.
Pakistan will become Asian tiger. If you ask why? and how? The answer is Imran khan, qadeer khan gave Pakistan nukes(military security)Imran khan will give Pakistan money (economic security).
Pakistan is changing Captain! By Captain Imran khan ;)