November 27, 2022
Bol News
More than his epaulets, the new army chief will be carrying the weight of Pakistan on his shoulders
General Asim Munir will take command of the Pakistan Army as its eleventh Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on Tuesday, November 29, amid high expectations that he will act swiftly to pull the country out of the lingering political crisis it is embroiled in, which is having a crippling effect on the economy of the world’s lone Muslim nuclear power.
The burden of expectations on the COAS-designate is huge. On one hand, General Munir will have to manage the traditional internal and external security challenges facing the country, and on the other, he will need to address the domestic political logjam and growing polarisation on a war-footing. The increasing political instability is now seen as posing an existential threat to the country that might even deny the new COAS the traditional settling-in ‘honeymoon’ period. He will be expected to get into the thick of action from day one, regardless of the outgoing Chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s declaration of the Pak Army’s decision to remain apolitical since February this year.
With the former premier, Imran Khan, now out on the roads with tens of thousands of supporters demanding early elections in the country, and the Shehbaz Sharif government determined to cling to power despite its growing unpopularity, the politicians have proved once again that they are unable to settle their differences on their own — inside or outside Parliament. Against this backdrop, there is a growing realisation in all segments of society that the system is crumbling. And this is why many eyes are looking towards the GHQ, expecting it to play its traditional role of ensuring stability in the country.
“General Asim Munir won’t be able to remain apolitical – whether he likes it or not,” said Huma Baqai, a prominent analyst and political commentator. “He will have to apply unconventional methods to end this dangerous political polarisation and confrontation, which Pakistan can ill-afford…the new army chief will have to play the role of a bridge either covertly or overtly.”
Other analysts lay the blame for the current state of affairs squarely on the military’s doorstep. They contend that the country became a victim of political instability since the Pakistan Army, under the command of General Qamar Javed Bajwa, announced its policy of being “neutral and apolitical.” Even in his last public speech, General Bajwa asserted this position, which appears unpopular among many Pakistanis, who have always looked towards the Pakistan Army in every moment of crisis. Indeed, for a vast majority of Pakistanis, the army has remained a stabilising force. But this image has taken a hit by the way traditional political dynasties with a horrendous record of corruption and misrule have been allowed to return to power.
For Lt. General (Retired) Ghulam Mustafa, the one silver lining in these tough times is that the appointments of both, the COAS, General Asim Munir, and the Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, have been endorsed by all the political parties and generally welcomed by the people.
“This gives them the moral authority to help defuse the political crisis,” said General Mustafa. “There are huge expectations from the new army chief about playing a role in sorting out this political mess and ensuring that the system continues to work. These are the expectations harbored by the people and the military rank and file. This political crisis is compounding the country’s economic crisis.”
Lt. Gen. (Retired) Naeem Khalid Lodhi also highlighted the expectations of the masses from the new army chief. “People are expecting him to help bridge the political gulf and ensure that all political parties are treated equally. He should play his role in defusing the political tension and make the politicians sit across the table. This would be taking a positive role. It cannot be construed as political interference,” he stated.
Baqai echoed the same line of thinking saying that when politicians fail to find a political solution, others have to act and find one. She maintained, “The new chief will have to demonstrate that he is engaged on behalf of the state and not for the government. This symbolism is vital… he has to operate in a way that he wins the trust of both the political camps.”
Since the ouster of the Imran Khan government in April this year, even many erstwhile die-hard supporters of the Pakistan Army have been criticising the institution, saying that its neutrality and silence helped the most corrupt political dynasties’ return to power.
The anti-corruption narrative was once the bedrock of the Pakistan Army and General Bajwa himself pushed it in his initial years as the COAS.
Analysts say that the new chief will have to work hard to dispel the perception that the Pakistan Army has now become the protector of the corrupt in any way.
General Mustafa said that the public image of the Pakistan Army needs to be restored. “The bond between the people and the barracks and the military rank-and-file with its leadership is vital,” he contended.
Javed Jabbar, Information Minister during the days of General Pervez Musharraf, however, demurred. According to him, the army chief should have no role in ending the country’s political logjam. “It is the responsibility of the politicians … they should stop looking at the military for solutions, and instead take this responsibility upon themselves. The onus lies on them.”
Jabbar added that the new COAS is a highly-rated and acknowledged officer, who has won the sword of honour. “Hopefully in this position, he will review the role of the army and go for a comprehensive disengagement in the civilian domain.”
But the polarised domestic political front is only one of the many pressing challenges which are on the new COAS’ plate.
According to Gen Lodhi, the Shehbaz government does not know or comprehend the new kind of war that has been unleashed against Pakistan. “The TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) is once again carrying out terrorist attacks on our soil, there is trouble in Balochistan, while the Indian generals are threatening Pakistan on a daily basis. Pakistan needs to refocus on the war against terrorism and reassert its position in region,” Gen. Lodhi asserted. “There is also a need to take hold of foreign policy which appears directionless. Relations with China are of prime importance and need to be rejuvenated … And besides the important task of rebuilding the army’s image and review of the security matrix, the new COAS must review the military system to make it affordable, yet maintain its strategic deterrence and operational efficacy in this time of economic crunch.”
General Ghulam Mustafa agreed that foreign relations would also be a front requiring some deft handling by the new COAS. “The national sentiment about Kashmir has to be taken into account… The challenge emanating from India has to be addressed. The new COAS has to give the people confidence that Pakistan is fully capable of countering the Indian threat.”
He, too, asserted that since relations with China appear to be “cooling-off,” they must be revitalised. Similarly, he said, the Afghan Taliban need to be reengaged out of the public glare to secure the western frontiers. The General however, acknowledged that the economic meltdown is the gravest challenge and even the rank and file of the armed forces are affected by the current record inflation.
Baqai spoke of the spate of anti-army propaganda witnessed in recent months. “The new military leadership will have to work hard to address this challenge and restore the image of its institution,” she maintained.
Given the need for a drastic course correction, Pakistanis now fervently hope the new military leadership will act in line with their traditional role and with the aspirations of the people, rather than be seen helping restore the discredited politicians of the 1990s in 21st Century Pakistan.
https://www.bolnews.com/newspaper/national-nerve/2022/11/the-hour-of-the-general/
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