Before it is too late, Pakistan needs a radical change in terms of reorganizing internal power centers. Adventurous former or serving generals should no longer be allowed to impose outdated foreign policy perceptions. As a significant stakeholder, the military can advise on foreign policy but it must not solely shape or dictate the contours of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
A country’s foreign policy is not formulated on the basis of paranoia and true or false security concerns. Trade and economic interests are corner stone of a successful foreign policy. A country can’t change its neighbors; she has to live with them. A country which can’t establish friendly or at least working relationship with its neighbors loses credibility.
Pakistan has credibility problem because its generals, not politicians; have been controlling the country’s foreign policy. The time has come that for the survival of Pakistan, and to restore its own credibility, the military restrains itself from dictating the foreign policy.
Civilians are not a heard of sheep. We need an army that serves the people of Pakistan, an army that follows law of the land and submits to the writ of an elected representative government. Foreign policy ought to be formulated by the elected civilian government in consultation with Parliament, military commanders, trained professionals, academia etc.
The military is not the sole interpreter of Pakistan’s national interests. The military is not the institution which should set the national or international agenda for Pakistan.
In the past, the people and all institutions of Pakistan were hostages at the hands of their own military. Indeed because of generals’ horrific blunders lives of millions of Pakistanis had been at risk. Intellectually confused generals like Ayub Khan, Sher Ali Khan, Zia-ul-Haq, Aslam Bag, Hamid Gul, Akhtar Abdur Rahman, Naseerullah Khan Baber, Javed Nasir, Pervez Musharraf and many others tried their flawed perceptions and philosophies in Pakistan by force and manipulation.
Professionally incompetent generals, some of whom were also corrupt, had put their personal greed and ambitions above Pakistan. Today, the Pakistani society is a sick society due to paranoia and confusions created by few retired generals.
The Pakistani military was involved in clandestine operations and often the country’s civilian leadership was kept unaware of such adventures, Kargil operation is one such example. In fact an independent investigation would reveal that some in the Pakistan military have been pursuing their own agendas at the cost of Pakistan and its people. Military coups and generals’ unlawful interference in foreign and domestic affairs have harmed Pakistan. Some Pakistani generals think only they know what is good for Pakistan. This approach has hurt Pakistan.
A few years ago, the tone of discussions at Corps Commanders’ meetings was not appropriate. During the PPP government, Corps Commanders acted as a parallel cabinet and presented themselves as defective rulers of Pakistan. Due to such behavior and internal divisions, Pakistan suffered humiliation on the national and international fronts.
The current military leadership can turn the page. General Raheel Sharif is a professional solider. So far his performance and leadership abilities are admirable. He has an opportunity to change the culture of contempt that has existed in the military ranks for Parliament and elected governments. I personally know few generals in General Raheel’s team. They are competent, decent and open minded professionals, who are only interested in transforming the Pakistan armed forces into one of the best professional forces in the world. They also want a soft image of Pakistan and its military. We need such professional soldiers, not politicians in uniform.
The military doesn't have the mandate to change governments or conduct the foreign policy. Nevertheless, as the organization which defends the country’s integrity and sovereignty, the military will remain a key stakeholder in formulating security and foreign policies. An elected Prime Minister and his government should not ignore the military’s professional advice on security and foreign policy. But there is difference between advice and dictation.
Half of the Pakistan’s troubles will end if military commanders recognize and respect, both in letter and spirit, the mandate and write of the elected civilian leadership, and the civilian leadership genuinely accepts military’s expertise by following their professional advice on security and foreign policy. Final decisions about internal and external affairs, however, are responsibility of the elected representatives of the Pakistani people.
Shiraz Paracha is a journalist and analyst. He is also an expert on Afghan, Central Asian and Russian affairs. His email address is: shiraz_paracha@hotmail.com
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