Avoiding To Face Unpalatable Truths

We have two layers of system. Civil government, only a titular power, and the military, a dominant force. In our past history of about 6 decades the second layer appallingly rose from its limits and overran the authority of the other parts of the system. Administration remained a tool boosting the military establishment and judiciary was mostly forced to ratify its deviations from the constitution and well-known norms of the states.

General Kiani is as much favorite of the media at home and abroad as Parvez Musharaf was cursed one. A popular conjecture is that Kiani is a pure professional soldier and under his command the military has drawn the lines of its limits deciding to refrain from meddlesome behavior. He has left the politics for the politicians and restricted the role of the armed forces to their professional duties of national defense. Parliament is sovereign and the government is powerful to chalk the domestic and foreign policies. On the other hand foreign media record General Kiani at number 19/20 in the list of the most powerful personalities of the world. His being taciturn and withdrawn is not a minus point for him but is accounted for his depth of personality and philosophical nature. Not only the media persons, columnists and TV anchors, politicians also shower lavish praises on him for giving the democracy go ahead on its track without any hindrance.

Of course! He has detracted the ‘khakies’ away from the shadows of politics. Yes, away but not under the three big houses, the Parliament House, President House and Prime minister House. Now, as a common impression has been built, military is too away to cause any harm on its instrumental position. All the three houses and also the politicians are obliged to him. On the occasion of 18th constitutional amendment by the parliament the prime minister very outlandishly and with a bit sycophantic tone expressed his pleasure on having the support of the establishment for supremacy of the parliament and his government.

Actually the eyes are too dazzled to see the mountain, which still firmly stands at its place but only out of sight of the ‘blindfolded’ politicians and rulers due to their dazzling. Its presence is still an undeniable fact. All the important decisions regarding foreign policy are made by the ‘khakies’. The limits of cooperation with America and NATO forces in war against terror are set by the establishment and not by the political government. In the ongoing military operation in FATA the civil government has not any role more than interior minister Rehman Malik’s hollow statements: “We have broken the back of the terrorists” “terrorists are on the run” “ we will give the chase till the last terrorist.”

In the operation areas armed personals are harsh, rude and sometime cruel while dealing with the people there. Revengeful behavior is often evident. No doubt many local roguish, mischievous elements and fugitives from different countries taking shelter in FATA are causing trouble. But the more impression about pro-Americanism of our armed forces is manifested the more flames of insurgency go high. It is a general thinking that ‘friend of the enemy is not but an enemy’. The impression of our armed forces’ friendship with the American has rightly built an opinion that they are enemies of their own people.

Silence of our military high command about drone attacks, in which innocent civil population is big target, is tantamount to its willingness on this brutality. Religiosity is the hallmark of the people in tribal areas. Not only the Taliban, most of the tribal population has a local blend and color of religiosity. Men are mostly bearded. All the fighters are not religious and all those in the Taliban rank are not fighting a religious but either a freedom war or to avenge for the killings of their relatives. Only bearded faces should not be the reason to brand the war against the occupying forces in Afghanistan and in our tribal areas a religious war. Our armed forces, which know this difference, are also singing in the American tone and following the American dictations. Now they are under pressure of the Americans to make no delay in start of the operation in North Wazirastan and even against Haqqani group across the borders.

Almost all of the policies adopted by former military dictator about the imported and owned war against terror are still in practice. Repugnant acts of picking the people from their houses, from work and even public places, vanishing and tormenting them, harassing and harming their families by the intelligence agencies are not over. It is just appeasing the American civil and military authorities and at their instance. The government is extremely inconsiderate and the courts are helpless in this case. Media are very cautious in expression of unpalatable truth.