The army needs trust
By Arun R. Zaheeruddin • May 26th, 2009 • Category: Politics, Worth A Second Look • 11 CommentsOver the past few weeks, the Pakistani army have emerged victorious in their battle against the stronghold of the Taliban insurgents in the North-Western Frontier Province. Green Square in Mingora where public beheadings were a norm is now back under the control of the Pakistani government. As the army progresses towards Taliban-occupied Lower Dir, one could be forgiven to associate the images of the battlefield to many a great wars fought between other nations throughout the world.
One of the finest and uplifting moments in this offensive by the Pakistani army has been the hoisting of the Pakistani flag atop one of the hills of the Swat Valley. For some reason it seemed like the hoisting of the flag at Mt Suribachi in Iwo Jima back during the World War II. An iconic moment in what is now the toughest conflict Pakistan has been involved in, since the insurgency began a few years back. While the raising of the American flag gave birth to a new kind of soldier: the Marine Corps of the United States; raising the Pakistani flag however puts a shadow of doubt on the efforts of the Pakistani army.
Where people should be applauding the army for their efforts, praising them for each square foot of land they acquire from the hands of the occupying forces, what the nation gives the men fighting for Pakistan is absolutely nothing. In fact, the people ask explanation for the army’s actions. In the past week, the army has bolstered support from all the corners of the nation for the warfare but the army still needs a bit more trust. People all over the country want results and they want it fast - which the army cannot fully deliver in the given circumstance. General Athar Abbas has been quoted as saying that the operations henceforth in Mingora are bound to be “painfully slow” as there are yet 20,000 souls trapped in the region.
A sudden influx in the population at the refugee camps and the mines that the Taliban left stranded in the city are some of the other factors that are keeping the army from advancing forward at a rapid pace. What the people now need to realise is that they need to give full support to the army in any way as is possible. Back in 2005, when the earthquake struck those very regions, the whole nation stood out in unison to help their fellow brothers and sisters in the North. Now, it’s time for the nation to stand united behind the armed forces if they are to see results soon.
In many a forums, I see people thrashing other countrymen, their fellow Pakistani citizens with bad language and a pessimistic attitude. Let me remind you that this isn’t going to take the nation anywhere but backwards. In some places, I hear people talk about the participation of Indian personnel in the Taliban ranks. Some say Russia is involved. My only question here is: who cares if the Taliban are Indians or Russians or even Japanese? Whoever they are, they are not good people, they are bad. They used Islamic laws for their benefit. They mistreated the people under them and they ripped the poor people off basic necessities (i.e., schools for girls, etc.)
A recent BBC survey showed that almost half of NWFP was under the so-called Taliban hold. The government so-far has claimed back a mere fraction of the province back under their hands and the fight may last for a lot longer. From initial speculations, the Pakistani army far exceeds the number of militants, 15,000 army personnel againsts 4,000 or 5,000 Taliban fighters but the only thing they lack now is support and the nation’s trust. Can we give it to them?
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>>>>>>>>>only thing they lack now is support and the nation’s trust. Can we give it to them?
Arun R. Zaheeruddin
Sure…..they can have it
“Dil layna hai tou
Dil dayna bhi hoga
kuch kehna bhi hoga
kuch kerna bhi hoga”
people of pakistan trust the army
is there anything thing else the people can do?
the people are at the mercy of the army to save them
do they have any other option?
“changi lagdi na dola teri doori
tenu takna aei …meri majboori
tu aakhiaan day row samne”
despite the majboori of the people, people would like to what happens behind the closed doors
forget about asif ali ghadari, he is only doing what one can expect from a common thief
i dont take it as a coincidence, that at the climax of the long march our army chief was in USA,
can anyone link a connection?
but we need to be sure that our army has not taken oath of loyalty to USA,
what makes me say that?
the previous army chief also wanted to protect pakistan, instead pakistan ended up fighting a 5-6 year war with its own people. and the dollars ended up in personal bank accounts, and the best part is we dont even know how many dollars came
result of which was common man ended up questioning the aim of the army, when i say army i dont mean the jawans fighting on the front line , i am talking about the high command sitting in the army houses and other places
the other result of which was the morale of army jawans is at a all time low,
THIS is making it difficult for the jawns to fight
why do i say this ?
because a soldier fight at the front line recently said (obviously his statement was off the record)
“it seems the establishment in Islamabad wants us to die, because more of us die, more the dead bodies, the more dead bodies the more the dollars(from usa under the umbrella of funding for war on terror) ”
why do the men at frontline feel that their dead bodies will be cashed into dollars?
the men post dated cheques? the cheques awaiting maturity(death)?
why do they feel that they are more valuable dead , rather than being alive?
SURE THE ARMY NEEDS TRUST !
but you forgot to mention “trust from whom?”
trust of the people?
or the trust of the army within itself?
how do we know that this is not another war on the concept of “dollars for deadbodies”?
if a soldier asks
“what am i giving my life for? dignity of dollars?”
“who am i fighting for ? pakistan or USA?”
it will be easy to guess the questions a common man will ask?
i am not askin a question……….
i am just asking for transparency
is it too much to ask for?
Nothing to say more after feeling Arias’s true pain in the form of words.
i support Arias when he says “how do we know that this is not another war on the concept of “dollars for deadbodies”?
if a soldier asks
“what am i giving my life for? dignity of dollars?”
“who am i fighting for ? pakistan or USA?”…………..
Needless to say this war is a cosmetic war and is meant to please the US Congress and the Senate to release billions of dollars in aid for Paksitan for the duration Mr. Zardari is to be the president of Pakistan.
What a Shame!!!
Trust who?
The situation is so sad, damage is done beyond repair.
The people support the army.
I do.
And almost every (even slightly) patriotic pakistani does.
The people have confidence in army.
The army(Gen Kiyani along with political (mis)leadership, as kiyani alone would mean him taking over pakistan) in return needs to take the people into confidence.
Its difficult to say how that can be done…………………But i would feel alot better if i am damm sure that this time around its not another eyewash
May Allah Guide Pakistan through this crisis.
prem
this dollar lust is only limited to our top army management and bureaucracy and we are very lucky that still our young blood in army from common background is very zealot and true nationalist that they are never fear of any danger and threat in the line of duty.You perhaps didnt hear the story of our 4 SSG warriors who fought with 9 to 10 talibans in their captivity and killed them by breaking their necks and then faced bullets on their chest.The problem only lying in corrupt policy making due to US deadly interests in the regions.
You can not say that this time line of action is cosmetic as we were observing for last 18 months but we are fully hoping that this time it would give us some true results as our other areas have badly come under influence of war this time.We are unable to manage this huge back flow of humans in our urban areas and rural areas are not developed to absorb its burden on limited resources.
Subedars …………..are exempted from this lust since they can have monthly ration.
Arun
Our army should be victorious on these savages as there is no match between two.Technically and materially One’s army should be superior on insurgents and there is no excuse of any delays and sign of defeat should be consideredas an alternative solution of this deadly game.
If you go back two years when our army was sent to curb them ,we all thought that it would be matter of time or days and these handful would be eliminated from the scene .But days gone, month passed and then year passed, all parameters of victorywere going towards insurgents.Their FM radio kept on working, schools were destroyed on weekly basis, talibans control on areas had been increasing instead of elimination.So when the dead bodies of local had started hanging on LASH CHOWK then people started loosing their faith on our army.The dead were those who were trying to help our army to point out the locations and actions of these die hards.
First people migrated within swat valley as they were trapped between two firing ranges.Army deputed near critical areas for record time neither tried to organize these illiterate people to help them as front shield nor they showed any signs of success to locals.
Political govt was also tried to handle them but it was obvious that wild cats dont hear the voice of their tutors and becoming more and more wilder as the time was passing.So our top management used same trick and it was to use all force without considering that huge population was living there These IDPs not left their home for better homes or any fear of talibans as they had already accepted their supremacy under power of gun.This is the law of terrain there.
As latest combat is done without warning so they had to leave as shelling and rockets were directly fired on their homes.So in latest crisis of human flow ,as per stories heard from locals most of destruction and causalities are being done by forceful military actions with out any warning and guidance to locals.So mistrust on army and its actions has been doubled for locals.
In such circumstances we can only pray of ending this war as soon as possible as this time the practical test is without any choice for both groups of army and civilian.
i hope pakistan survives this difficult situation. i read a lot of foreign media saying that the talibans are simply melting away among the locals and the army has not been able to kill or capture main talibani leaders.
i think what ali sajjad wrote comes true and the pakistani army is victorious.
nazia,
Thank you for giving your reply. I respect your kind opinion.
Hi Zaharuddin,
The need for this post is amply eloborated by comments by Arias.But nobody seems to ask one question.
How come this socalled TALIBAN came into existence?
How they are so powerful inside Pakistan that they are defying Pakistani army at Mingora and Pichnor etc and are able to inflict damage at lahore itself? Was it an attmept to abduct LET chief hafeez?
Who is funding them? The weapons and ammunition do not come cheap.
Who trained them and who indocotrinated them to oppose Pakistani Army?
Why there is calmour in pakistani ruling circles that this operation should be stopped.Even legendary Imran Khan is opposing this war and he is the one indirectly blamed India for Srilankan attack and now he is keeping quiet about India but blaming everyone except himself.
Is Pakistani Ruling elite FULLY BEHIND PAKISTANI ARMY? Ordinary patriotic Pakistani people always support pakistani Army.