Articles of the year 2014
Published on July 15th 2014
The bombshell dropped by Gen Retd Athar Abbas about the role played by General Kayani in not allowing the move into Waziristan, which was the recommendation of the Army Commanders,in 2010, but was vetoed by Gen.Kayani. This revelation raises many questions. I had written many times that the reluctance of Gen Kayani had allowed the spread of the Taliban into the rest of Pakistan, into Lahore and Karachi. This spreading into Urban Pakistan, exposed Pakistan to the most dangerous enemy infiltration into the cities which positioned the Taliban to choose and pick targets as and when they decided, in cities as yet unprotected.
In guerrilla warfare against the State, of paramount importance is cover. As invariably when someone takes up arms against the State, it is the State always that is all powerful. So, the rebels taking up arms to bring about a regime change, have to indulge in a lethal game of hide and seek. Cover is essential. In recent memory, the Vietcong defeated a much more powerful adversary- the mighty US, by clever use of the jungle. They would travel for miles through an elaborate system of tunnels spread throughout the country. Coming out at night to pick off the enemy. Similarly the Lankan tigers held off the Sri Lankan army for twenty five years. In both cases the cover was the lush jungles of Viet nam and Sri Lanka. In Kenya the Mau Mau managed to drive the British out of Kenya. Again the jungles were a prime asset well used by the Mau Mau. The Russian Afghan war saw a mighty, vicious army, forced into submission by a smaller force with little or no equipment, but one used to the mountain terrain, using this terrain to vanquish the all powerful Russians.
The disclosure by Gen Athar Abbass is very significant, for, it shows that the sweep of the Northern Area of Pakistan was opposed from as far back as 2010. It also reveals that the Army and the US were on the same side, only Gen Kayani was opposing this sweep. It would also mean that Gen Kayani knew of Osama Bin Laden, and for his own reasons chose to provide the cover, for Osama. This did pit Pakistan against the rest of the world, but now it seems Gen Kayani was involved, and the rest of the Army did not know nor was party to this calumny. The Kayani period of influence started from 2002 when he was chief of ISI. And continued with an extension of his tenure as COAS till 2013.
In effect he was the architect of Pakistani policy for 9 years. This also included overseeing the Foreign policy, which is known to be monitored very carefully by the Army, obviously as the largest stake holder in the establishment, they could never allow any move without their veto. They also dictated who was or was not the enemy. It also makes him the person responsible for misguiding the Army by deliberately ignoring the dangers posed by the rising Taliban threat. Trying to work with the Taliban after being repeatedly double crossed by the Taliban, losing many soldiers and officers. Many under grotesque murders,( decapitation, severed heads, throats being slit and video taped ) the videos sent to various news channels. These were all contrary to the Geneva convention, and served to display the bloodthirsty bent of the Taliban. This should have triggered a furious response from the Pakistani Army. For our troops have been instilled with all the protocols given us by the British Army. This response was not forthcoming, and it seems that Kayani was personally responsible for this, and had a disastrous effect on the morale of our troops. The Mullah factions such as Fazlur Rahman, Samiul Haq, seemed to acquiesce giving an air of validity to these criminal acts.
All these inactions on the Army’s behalf, spread confusion amongst the ranks, and our US allies. Giving the impression to the world that we were duplicitous pretending to fight with the Americans, partaking of their largesse while dealing softly with the Taliban. By the latest Army revelations it seems that the Army had decided as far back as 2010 that the Taliban were indeed the enemy, and an attack was necessary. Kayani alone was against this, causing not only an inordinate delay, but allowed the Taliban to spread their network throughout the Punjab. It is now that much more difficult to remove their presence. This presence is bolstered by an increased number of Madrassas run by their collaborating Mullahs, who have assiduously blurred the lines between Islam and Pakistan. Condoning anti-Pakistan behavior by giving it an Islamic cover. This is fallacious, for Pakistan- the State is under threat, and not Islam. The soldier fights for the State of Pakistan.
This errant policy of Kayani has cost Pakistan many lives, both civilian and military, 50,000 dead so far. A huge number. But Pakistan may be the ultimate casualty. Kayani’s role in the removal of Gen Pasha should also be examined in the Memogate affair, in which Hussain Haqqani and Zardari were reported to have written to the American President to save Zardari from a coup to be mounted by the Army. Gen Pasha was removed, when all the evidence showed that a treasonous act had been committed by Haqqani. Gen Kayani’s role in protecting Haqqani is questionable especially when such a serious charge is leveled. The role of Gen Kayani should be carefully examined, for at a critical time in our history, when the US Afghan war started, and Pakistan should have been on the winning side, we allowed the anti-US forces, to hijack the Islamic slogan, naming the US as the Satan. When in 2010 the Pak Army decided that the real enemy was indeed the Taliban, the damage to Pakistan and the image of Pakistan had already been done. One must try and find the rationale behind the Kayani thinking. Also, how he could have run counter to the thinking of his peers.
These are the blunders responsible for our miserable state of affairs. Our leadership is flawed, and now the Army leader has been exposed—badly at that.
In all wars, the countries in proximity to the war-zone reap the monetary benefits. In this Afghan Pak war, the US has spent more than 100 Billion Dollars. While Pakistan has lost its stability, 70% of the Industries have shut down. Our export markets have dwindled, damage to its infrastructure (roads) and the emergence of a force using Pakistani soil and deciding to attack the host -Pakistan itself. This force is spreading the use of kidnapping and extortion, many times in the name of their war.
We must be rid of them, and join hands with the rest of the world, and to benefit, not remain an outcast. We must also be grateful to Gen Athar Abbas for setting the record straight, and exposing the real face of Kayani.