Temporal October 9, 2002

Tags: Law , Elections , Nuclear , Terrorism , Occupation , Government , Military , Politics , Iran , India , Pakistan

rel="tag" href="/tag/CHOWK">CHOWK would take the initiative and form a group... if only we had the BALLS to do something...but what good are we if we don’t even try...if we lose we only lose our life and that’s not much considering there are thousands being born all the time...but if we win...we would be changing things for all life times to come for more lives we can even imagine!!!

#30 by nasah on September 10, 2002

… if not the politicians -- then who and what -- why are we redefining the politicians -- they are same everywhere -- they are corrupt everywhere -- only difference is of the degrees -- at the same they are indispensable everywhere -- you have to use what you got -- these sinners minus their ill-gotten wealth -- are still hundred times better than an ’extremely democratic’ divinely-sent gunslinger who stole a government at gunpoint…
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Desperate people clutch at any straw of hope. After October 1999 we did the same yet again. Just go back and read the newspapers of that period. We are a desperate people.

We do not learn from our past and are doomed to repeat it.

A year after the forthcoming elections we would be as desperate as ever. Same tired faces trying the same old tricks. Same ranks, same vested interests, same ever widening gap between the haves and the have-nots. Only some names would be different.

All children are born innocent. From the moment they start gasping for air mothers start inculcating values in them. Their inadvertent programming of the infant’s raw chips results in the fine and the not-so fine specimens we see around us.

The horses are another story. They are born wild. As any equestrian knows they do have to be broken into. Am reminded of this quote from a short story ‘Hold your horses man, gotta break this mare.’

Pakistan’s Occupying Army has become a wild mare. It has to be broken into. It has to be re-taught to walk, run, trot. It has no business in the nation’s bedroom, living room, mosque or market place, thank you Pierre. As a fifty plus year old institution it should have retained the values and lessons on its own. Rather, we see that it has outgrown its britches and in a hallucinogenic fit has begun to think of herself as the sole arbiter and guardian of the nation’s destiny.

Pakistan’s Occupying Army is not the solution: it is the problem. And the forthcoming elections on October 10 under its aegis would not solve or change anything for the suffering masses.

And those who think the coming elections would make a difference are in denial or delusional. Pakistan today is an occupied land. The Occupation Army has to be removed from the equation. Unless that is forced, nothing will change.

This article is in the nature of a probe leading to possible solutions, not a call for anarchy. Help translate this into regional languages and circulate it widely for discussion.

It is about time the people re-take Pakistan and remind their Armed Forces unequivocally that its principal function is to shine the brass, guard the doors, do the march past on national holidays, salute and serve the civilians, and provide strong help and deterrent in times of national crisis. Just a couple of notes of caution. When I mention Pakistan Army you should read all the senior officers of the Armed Forces. Say all those officers above the rank of full Colonels and Brigadiers.

There is not the slightest doubt in my mind that the seniors in the Army can be neutered, de-clawed and banished. History will be on our side. No Army in history has ever successfully captured and ruled its own people for any length of time. And if we succeed in communicating our intentions and plans in simple and effective language and deeds then we could even get help from within the enemy’s ranks.

How can the people wrestle back the powers from the Army? Who would do it? Is there a will? How can this will and consensus be raised and sustained? How would the US and our neighbors react? How to inform the US, Israel, China, India, Afghanistan and Iran to keep their noses out. And most importantly how to guarantee nuclear safeguards to the world while the people tame and break the shrew-mare?

We have to rid the Pakistan Army of every officer above the rank of full colonel and its air force and naval equivalent. Instead of maturing and growing on the job they have displayed a tendency over the past decades to evolve into mini gods. They have deluded themselves into believing only they can think and act on behalf of all Pakistanis. The onlyway for their redemption and salvation is to physically sever their connection with the Armed Forces. By other means if not by gentle persuasion.

This has to be won in a classical showdown between the Guns of the Army and the Will of the People.

First a broad coalition has to be weaved out of the populace. All groups that fight for the rights of people should get together to form a Citizen’s Coalition. The regional autonomy seekers, minorities, all the moderate smaller regional parties, the educated, unemployed, the peasants, madaris, NGOs, the disenfranchised men, women and youth. As broad a coalition as possible should be assembled.

Who would lead? Don’t know the answer yet. Let us discuss it. I do know this: when the groundswell builds up it would not tolerate a vacuum at the top and an effective and responsive leadership would rise.

Any scenario involving confrontation between the populace and the country’s Army is a troubling one. But where the country/Army has access to the nuclear trigger it is unsettling for others as well. The world needs to be reassured that in the ensuing confrontation the safety of the nuclear arsenal and fission material will be uppermost, and will not be negotiable. This needs to be conveyed in very plain and simple language to everyone.

Over the years the bastion of free world has shown an utter disdain for anything that upsets the status quo in its dealings with other nations. And with dichotomous contempt for human rights, fair play or justice. So the Citizen’s Coalition should expect some stern opposition from the US. The CC should explain that its interests lie only in cleansing its army of demigods, where the survivors would be at the beck and call of civilian leadership like good employees elsewhere in the civilized world.

The CC should position and sell itself to the US as a potential bulwark and ally against terrorism and extremism.

The CC should come up with a way to make Uncle Sam an offer it cannot refuse. The US already has assigned corridors over Pakistani air space as well as some ground bases. They should be able to detect, prevent, localize and neutralize the nuclear danger. The Chinese have always been pragmatic and understanding. And India can be broached to keep up the pressure across the international border and the line of control, as it has done since December 2001. They know that a moderate, civilian governed neighbor would be in their best interest.

After direct or indirect US support the next most crucial support will have to come from India in this endeavor to rid Pakistan of its occupying army. The CC could drop the hint that once successful it would join a regional coalition to lobby for a Security Council seat for India when the UN is reorganized.

The CC should also give the world an undertaking that it would not attack the nuclear facilities or holding grounds, protect civilians and avoid any wanton destruction of local and foreign assets and infrastructure. In fact, it should invite Uncle Sam and others to help us in creating a junior/senior rift in our Army. And then actively support the junior officers to protect the nuclear assets. This should have a calming effect upon international troubled waters. And the CC should make it clear to the US to ensure that India and other countries in the region stay out of our way till the citizens have sorted out the mess.

The CC can give assurances that it will act as a responsible citizen in the comity of nations. That it will unconditionally sign the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty. Will not interfere in the affairs of another country. Will promote and safeguard the universal declaration of human rights.

The ‘senior’ Army and its religious and vested allies, now used to the arrogance of occupation and the benefits of exclusive power play in the country will play politics also. The CC should acknowledge this and have contingency counter plays up their sleeves as well.

How the events will unfold is anyone’s guess. It could come as a localized confrontation around some air, naval or military base that can provide the catalyst for a domino effect expanding nation-wide, or it could come as a series of targeted selective cantonment actions in the provinces. Regrettably, there would be some fatalities. How to avoid and minimize them is for the CC military strategists to determine. The end game should be to purge the Armed Forces of all the arthritic conditioned colonels and generals and to promote and co-opt a younger breed that understands the needs of a professional army under complete civilian control.

Of course there is no guarantee that all the elements of a newly purged and cleansed Army would not withdraw and lick their wounds and bide for its time when they can once again conquer their people and reoccupy their land.

In the ensuing period, hopefully, and with persistent hard work the Citizen’s Coalition can successfully rebuild and build institutions beginning first with a working and responsive representative form of local, regional and national governments that any resurgent Army would not be able to dislodge with the ease of the past.

Prime attention and emphasis must be given to law and order, economy, education and health and welfare.

For now these are the musings of a minor poet in search of a people’s Jinnah. But hopefully, out of the ensuing discussions a clearer and better plan can evolve. Otherwise the tunnel-visioned trigger happy, army brass can leave us glowing in the dark for a long time to come.

Once we have broken the mare and set the course for a resurgent, peaceful Pakistan primarily occupied with education, law and order and economic betterment of its citizens, then we can utilize our talents for fixing other ills, like resource management, conservation, Truth and Reconciliation Commission (along South African pattern) etc.