Don’t Ignore Armed Forces’ Sacrifices and Services

                                                           By Sajjad Shaukat

At this crucial hour, Pakistan’s armed forces have been coping with internal and external challenges of grave nature in order to maintain the security of the country in wake of the  political crisis which is still boiling up after the ouster of the former Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chairman of the PTI through vote of no-confidence motion, passed in the National Assembly (NA) ) on April 9, 2022 by the then joint opposition-an alliance of the PDM, following the order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

NA selected Shehbaz Sharif-leader of the PML-N as the new prime minister after the PTI MNAs boycotted the election and resigned from the lower house.

The ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan started a mass movement against the PDM regime by public rallies, demanding early elections. But, the government’s coalition partners did not agree to the early elections, saying that the current regime would complete its tenure up to August 2023.

Imran Khan who launched a long march popularly called “Haqeeqi Azadi March” (Real Freedom March) to get rid of the US-led ‘imported government’, as he claimed, reached Islamabad on May 25, this year. He returned after giving an ultimatum that if the government did not announce the date of elections, he is likely to announce another long march. 

Addressing public rallies in various cities, this year, the ex- Prime Minister Khan almost repeated his previous statements. Criticising his rival politicians, while targeting the Pakistan Army and its army chief, using terms ‘establishment’ or ‘neutrals’, Khan asked his supporters to determine whether his ouster from power was an“interference” or a “conspiracy”. Targeting the US, he said: “A major international conspiracy was carried out against his government and this country…I cannot allow our country to become a slave to anyone”.

Referring to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, he elaborated: “One Mir Jaffer has been imposed on us via a conspiracy…the US officials had started meeting the leaders of the then opposition parties at the American embassy…the US official Donald Lu met the Pakistani ambassador… had threatened the Pakistani envoy that if the no-confidence motion was not successful then it will be very difficult for Pakistan…Pakistan would be forgiven if it succeeds”.

Sometimes, ex-PM Khan appreciated the army and sometimes, targeted it indirectly stating: “I knew the match was fixed…I asked the Supreme Court why it did not investigate the diplomatic cypher”.

Leaders of the PDM parties challenged the authenticity of the ‘threat letter’—repeatedly said that the letter was a ploy of Khan to instigate the people and to increase the vote bank.

In a recent interview with a private TV channel, Imran Khan stated: “If the establishment doesn’t make the right decisions then…the Army will be destroyed because…if it [Country] goes bankrupt…Pakistan would break into three parts…what concession will be taken from us? Denuclearisation…the current defining moment is a trial for the establishment”.

Various leaders such as Chairman of PPP Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, including those of the other ruling coalition parties unleashed a tempest of condemnation against the PTI chairman, explaining that in retaliation of his ouster, Khan has crossed the redline, as his anti-army statements show.

In the recent past, addressing a public rally, Imran Khan accused the ruling coalition of pitting him against Pakistan Army and state institutions to derail his “positive prospects” of winning the elections.

Similarly, speaking at a public rally in Faisalabad on September 4, 2022, Khan allegedly said that Nawaz Sharif, [Former Prime Miniter and head of the PML-N] and Asif Zardari wanted to appoint the army chief of their choice because if a “strong and patriotic army chief” came, they would be questioned about their loot. Afterwards, he reiterated that the army chief should be selected on merit and I still stand by my statement as there was nothing wrong with it.

The military spokesperson of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) pointed out on September 5, 2022: “Pakistan Army termed PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s remarks on appointment of Chief of Army Staff as unfortunate and disappointing…Regrettably, an attempt has been made to discredit and undermine senior leadership of Pakistan Army at a time when the institution is laying lives for the security and safety of the people of Pakistan every day…Senior leadership of Army has decades-long impeccable meritorious service to prove its patriotic and professional credentials beyond any doubt…politicising the senior leadership of Pakistan Army and scandalizing the process of selection of army chief is neither in the interest of the state of Pakistan nor of the institution.”

Leaders of the political and religious parties as well as members of civil societies condemned Imran Khan’s remarks against Pakistan Army and its leadership. Even, Pakistan’s President Dr. Arif Alvi (of PTI) said: “All soldiers including Chief of Army Staff are patriots…no one can question patriotism of the Army”.

Earlier, DG of ISPR Maj-Gen. Babar Iftikhar rejected reports, indicating that no ‘conspiracy’ was made and no diplomatic ‘cypher’ was issued by a foreign country, as pointed out by PM Khan.

It is notable that Maryam Nawaz allegedly remarked that former Premier Imran Khan only lasted in office for over three years as he had the support of ex-intelligence [DG of ISI] officer Lt. Gen. Faiz Hamid.

In response to Maryam’s statement, the ISPR called it unlawful practice of dragging the armed forces into politics, warning that such unsubstantiated statements by both the government and opposition parties were extremely damaging for the country.

Meanwhile, during the Formation Commanders’ Conference chaired by Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the country’s top military brass has taken notice of the recent propaganda campaign by some quarters especially on social media to malign Pakistan Army and create a division between the institution and society.

It is mentionable that politicians’ statements, particularly those of the former PM Imran Khan are being used by pro and anti-PTI supporters and media persons to vindicate their respective narratives, while India and its fake news-social media are also manipulating the same against Pakistan’s armed forces.

Notably, in November 2020 when the PDM had launched a movement to topple the elected regime of PTI, addressing a PDM rally in Gujranwala via a video link from London, ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accused army chief Bajwa and ISI chief Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed of rigging elections and toppling his government to install Imran Khan in his place.

In fact, since July 28, 2017 when the Supreme Court had announced its verdict in connection with the Panama Papers case and disqualified the then PM Nawaz Sharif regarding the corruption charges, the deposed prime minister and his daughter Maryam Nawaz were, openly, criticising the Supreme Court and Army. Thus, they had been misguiding the people and were provoking them against the key institutions.

Now, PTI’s workers have been distorting Army’s image in such a way that general masses have forgotten the sacrifices and services of the armed forces. 

Recall armed forces’ innumerable services and sacrifices especially of Army such as the resettlement of the Internally Displaced Persons during the Swat and Malakand military operations, counter-insurgency operations and restoration of law and order on many occasions—during catastrophic periods—floods, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic, locusts’ attacks etc.—also giving matching response to Indian shelling at the Line of Control and to stop infiltration of terrorists inside Pakistan from Afghanistan.

Earlier, on August 5, 2019, Indian extremist government led by the fanatic Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the leader of the ruling party BJP revoked articles 35A and 370 of the Constitution, which gave a special status to the disputed territory of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Indian government bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories—Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to be ruled by the federal government. Indian cruel actions against the Kashmiris reached climax, as on the same day, New Delhi also imposed strict lockdown in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK). and deployed more than 900,000 troops there. Indian military and paramilitary troopers have martyred tens of thousands of the Kashmiris, including women and children through ruthless tactics, firing of pallets and extrajudicial killings.

Especially, New Delhi had escalated tensions with Islamabad particularly in the aftermath of the false flag terror attack at Pulwama-in the IIOJK. In this respect, on February 27, 2019 in response to the Indian so-called pre-emptive air strike near the town of Balakot, close to the border with Pakistan’s sector of Kashmir, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shot down two Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets and launched aerial strikes at six targets in the IOK. Pakistan’s civil and military leaders have repeatedly pointing out that India is planning anchor false flag operation-Pulwama-II against Pakistan in order to divert attention from its internal issues and failure of external policy. Taking cognisance of these developments, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa has repeatedly warned India, saying: “We will respond any aggression with full might.”

It is noteworthy that Pakistan’s armed forces and ISI have successfully broken the backbone of the foreign-backed terrorists. Peace has been restored in the provinces of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Karachi, including other vulnerable regions. 

But, in the recent past, terrorist attacks particularly in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan which is central point of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) show that the CIA-led Indian RAW and Israeli Mossad are destabilising Pakistan and want to damage the CPEC project which is part of China’s OBOR or BRI. Besides, Pakistan is the only nuclear country in the Islamic World. Therefore, it has become special target of some Western entities.

Pakistan Army has not only been successful in uprooting the anti-state and separatist elements, but also contributed a lot in socio-economic development of Balochistan besides giving military training to the youth, while protecting mega-projects and the CPEC staff.

When more than 250 children died of malnutrition and diseases in 2019 in Thar region of Sindh, Pakistan Army established a free medical camp in Tharparkar. Army doctors and paramedics provided essential medical treatment to over 1,800 patients.

Since 1984, Pakistan’s military is fighting against the Indian forces in the Siachen Glacier region despite the unfavorable weather conditions.

While, during the previous regime of the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, WAPDA was going to be bankrupted and he had invited the Army to manage its affairs. By collecting the electricity bills, even from the influential persons, army’s personnel had saved WAPDA from bankruptcy.

Now, besides facing external challenges—Indian war-mongering policy, Pakistan’s security agencies have been coping with a different war, as enemy employs subversive activities of various kinds which include both internal and external crises. In this regard, Gen. Bajwa has frequently stated that Pakistan is facing the challenge of hybrid war.

Before the start of the military operation Zarb-e-Azb (Sharp and Cutting strike), terrorists had been, primarily, waging a war against the citizens of Pakistan, their values, beliefs and assets. 200 million people of the country had been facing various kinds of terrorism related attacks, being conducted by the AI-Qaeda, the Islamic State group (Also known as Daesh, ISIS and ISIL), Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant outfits.

But, unlike other countries’ war against terrorism, including the US-led Western countries’ war against these non-state actors, Pakistan’s Armed Forces displayed unbelievable progress through the Zarb-e-Azb which started on Jun 15, 2014 against the militants in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) and afterwards extended to other tribal areas, has almost, successfully, achieved its objectives.

During Gen Bajwa’s term, continuing the Zarb-e-Azb, in February 2017, the Pakistan Army launched ‘Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad (Elimination of Discord) aimed at indiscriminately eliminating the residual/latent threat of terrorism, and further ensuring Pakistan’s border security.

International community knows very well that under the command of Gen. Bajwa, Pakistan’s armed forces have successfully defeated the externally-backed terrorists by the military operations Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad.

This is worth-mentioning that the Taliban fighters on August 15, last year entered the Afghan capital Kabul and seized power, taking control of Afghanistan. The Taliban-led government clarified that Afghan soil would not be used for any terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda, ISIS and TTP for terror-attacks against neighboring countries, including Pakistan. But, regarding some recent terror-attacks, sources suggested that some militants of the TTP have entered Pakistan from Afghanistan. Hence, military leadership has warned Kabul to check this infiltration. 

Addressing the Defence Day and Martyrs Day ceremony on September 6, 2018, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa stated: “The country passed through a very difficult phase during the past two decades…Our forces and nation have rendered sacrifices in the war against terrorism…Our houses, schools and leaders were attacked. Efforts were made to weaken us internally.” Noting that more than 70,000 Pakistanis were martyred and injured in this war (2017), the army chief vowed to collectively fight this menace of terrorism.

General Qamar Javed Bajwa had been appointed as Chief of Army Staff with effect from November 28, 2016. During the course of Gen. Bajwa’s tenure, the term of Bajwa Doctrine came under much discussion. In January 2018, DG of ISPR Maj-Gen. Asif Ghafoor stated that Gen Bajwa wanted to make Pakistan a peaceful country and referenced the ‘doctrine’ as the army chief’s vision for the country. He elaborated: “Bajwa Doctrine will bring a durable peace in the country,” adding that cooperation between state institutions was vital in the war against terrorism.

Besides sacrifices and services of the armed forces, particularly of Army, as already mentioned, under Bajwa’s command—commencing of fencing along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in June 2017 by Army in an effort to improve the security situation along the international boundary and almost completion of the project in 2021 are praiseworthy. And after merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in 2018, Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa who has frequently visited some of these regions congratulated the tribal elders and the youth, said that this mainstreaming shall facilitate bringing enduring peace, stability and socio-economic development of the long neglected and terrorism rid areas.

It is of particular attention that when the unprecedented deadly floods and extraordinary monsoon rains which began in June, this year have destroyed lives, livelihoods and infrastructure in various regions of Pakistan, Gen. Bajwa, himself supervised the Army’s rescue and relief operations which still keep on going  in the affected areas. Besides the efforts of Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force, Army also saved the lives of thousands of individuals. These forces also provided the people of the flood-stricken areas with basic needs of life as well as safe shelter. 

During his tenure, Gen. Bajwa paid special attention to the CPEC security and ties with China. In this context, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang had remarked: “We believe [that] under the leadership of General Bajwa, Pakistan Army will continue to make contributions to upholding Pakistan’s sovereignty and security interests and regional peace and stability…General Bajwa is an extraordinary leader of Pakistan Army.”

During his recent trip to the United States, Gen. Bajwa held meetings on October 4, 2022 with the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, during which they discussed the regional security situation. Pentagon sources suggest that they agreed that this long-standing partnership continues today with discussions focused on opportunities to address key mutual defense interests. Rejecting India’s concerns over $450—the F-16 upgrade for Pakistan, during Gen. Bajwa’s visit, America confirmed it.

According to Al Jazeera, “the army chief put the rumours pertaining to his extension in service, addressing a gathering at Pakistan Embassy in DC when he announced that he would retire in November [November 29, 2022].”

In the meantime, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has awarded army chief Gen. Qamar Bajwa with King Abdulaziz Medal for making “significant contributions in defence cooperation” between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. And Gen. Bajwa also received the UAE’s highest civil award, Order of Zayed or Order of the Union Medal, for making “significant contributions in furthering bilateral ties” between both countries.

Regrettably, under the cover of so-called democracy, some irresponsible leaders of the PTI and those of the ruling parties have changed their political differences into political enmity. Registration of cases/FIRs, blame game, hostile propaganda as well as exploitation of audio-video leaks against one another might be cited as example. Likewise, when court’s verdict supports PTI, its leaders accept it, and when it favours PDM their leaders admire the same. Otherwise, if it is against them they disagree with the same.

Nonetheless, these political entities and media persons are moving the country towards anarchy or civil war by giving priority to their personal interests over national interests.

Taking note of these drastic developments, addressing the passing-out parade ceremony on October 8, this year at the Pakistan Military Academy in Abbottabad, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa clarified that the armed forces, with the support of its citizenry, will “never allow any country, group or force to politically or economically destabilise Pakistan.” He advised the cadets—“never get distracted by fake news and political wrangling in the country…to respect the democratic institutions and be always ready to defend the territorial integrity, sovereignty and constitution of Pakistan with their life.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: [email protected]