The Pakistani Spectator

US is facing defeat like situation in Afghanistan, which compelled top bosses at Pentagon and White House to reconsider US’ Afghan strategy. The heavy toll of alien forces at the hand of Taliban since last two years, especially in the months of December 2009, January and February 2010 forced the foreign forces to pullout their troops from Afghanistan. The latest one or two odd operations against Mujahideen have been, in fact, conducted by the soldier of Afghan National Army (ANA) while the command was held by the NATO troops. This is being done with the spirit to minimize casualties of NATO forces. Fact here cannot be denied that till to-date the maximum punch has been absorbed in Afghanistan by ANA while the US and allies only perform supervisory and command roles. As per the latest plan chalked out at Pentagon, alien troops would start withdrawal from mid next year. However, many analysts have not noticed that the withdrawal has already taken place and instead of combatants as replacement, fresh groups of trainers and members of reconstruction team have already started arriving in Kabul and Islamabad. The most striking feature of the new US strategy is that a new private Army is being raised on the lines of SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics) teams. To achieve this goal, Washington has started recruiting non-US citizens in its Army. The controversial plan of opening Recruitment Centres in Afghanistan and Pakistan is already underway and more foreigners from Asia and Arabia are being offered citizenship. The concept is not new as most of the US personnel in Afghanistan are not Americans but foreign citizens, serving as mercenaries to achieve US’ objectives. By doing this, obviously, the total size of US military would be expanded to ensure presence US ground troops in most of the trouble zones of the world as well would minimize American causalities.

Today foreign intelligence agencies and their front offices claim that they have brigades of Pakistani serving and retired government officers and staff who are working for them. They include bureaucrats, Armed Forces personnel, government employees and others. One wonders, how come we have allowed these people to work for our adversaries and rivals. When we talk about the writ of the government, it really sound meaningless that those who are the employees of foreign government are being given red carpet receptions while those are mere suspected to be agents are ruthlessly killed. It is criminal on the part of foreign government and their agencies to employ Pakistani serving and retired officers and staff without seeking permission in writing from Islamabad. We need to impress upon the foreign governments trough their embassies and consulates in Pakistan as well as through our representatives in foreign countries about Ex-Government Servants’ Employment with Foreign Governments (Prohibitation) Act. We have treaty of extradition with a number of countries of the world and Pakistan must get back its criminals so that exemplarity punishment should be awarded to them as they are breaching the security of the country.

US plan to recruit soldiers and Marines from Afghanistan and Pakistan has been authenticated by law. Few years back, Pentagon policy restricted only those immigrants who were legally residing in the US to be eligible for joining Armed Forces. But this has been overcome by change in US law, which gave Pentagon authority to bring immigrants to the US if it determines it is vital to national security. Pentagon is confident that that it would achieve recruiting goals in Afghanistan and Pakistan. No doubt, those would are willing to work for US interests in lieu of minor attraction like US citizenship can never be loyal to either Afghanistan or Pakistan. They are fifth columnist and enemies in our files but our countries should no give them free hand. They need to be treated as traitors and apprehended on that account or should be forced out in exile for good. Ironically, there are many bureaucrats, Armed Forces personnel, government and other employees who are unaware of the Employment with Foreign Governments (Prohibitation) Act and claim that if simply a No Objection Certificate (NOC) is awarded by parent department they may take-up employment with anywhere. This is not only disgusting but speaks of casual attitude from Ministries, departments and other offices in guiding their employees about the rules under which they are governed.   Gone is gone, we still have time to warn beforehand that anyone taking up employment in federal or provincial governments would not allowed to take up job with foreign government and their agencies. Weak clause such as “except with previous permission in writing of the Federal Government…”  need to be ignored as no sane person would provide a chance to a pensioner, retired officials or an ec-employee to share national secrets with foreign government. Specifically talking about sensitive departments under Ministry of Defence including Armed Forces and other sensitive offices, they cannot be permitted under any condition. The authority giving a NOC may be asked to give in writing that by undertaking employment of the ex-employee with foreign government it will in no way compromise classified information and security of Pakistan.

As regard to the Pakistani Armed Forces and other government departments, it is duty of every Pakistani to furnish information to Police about deserters and those who are employees of foreign governments in Pakistan and abroad. Armed Forces personnel who have deserted or joined foreign governments diplomatic or counselor representatives including their information, public relations, trade or commercial agency, service or foundation established or maintained by any such government or by any person who is a national of foreign country required to be immediately arrested, even by an ordinary citizen of Pakistan. Such individuals are not only criminals in the eyes of law but have breached national trust and are enemies of the Pakistan. Thus, any person who apprehends or who furnish information which leads to the apprehension of a combatant, including a reservist or Non-combatant who is in the state of desertion or absent without leave form Army and who does not surrender himself voluntarily will receive a reward. To this effect a list is maintained by District Superintendent of Police which can be easily accessed by general public. Penalty is already clear in the law that whoever contravenes the provision of section shall be punishable with the imprisonment for a term that may extend to seven years, or with fine that may extend to fifty thousand rupees or with forfeiture of property, or with any two or more of the said punishments. In the prevailing situation, this act of the National Assembly which received an assent of the President on 7th July, 1966 and was published in the Gazette of Pakistan need to be made further rigorous so that no one dare to violate national security by joining files of enemies and rivals.