Sunday, February 24, 2008

Pakistan Army & a New Scenario

Hear it from the horse's mouth.
Maj. Gen. (r) Ahtesham Zamir admits of his degrading role in the Musharraf-Shujat staged farce that was the election of 2002. I suspect this gentleman is the son of late Zamir Jaffri, and perhaps the credit goes to that thing called "zamir" (which his father, a beloved poet, an honest man, had no dearth of) that has finally forced his mouth open and made him speak candidly about the drama that ushered in one of the darkest periods of Pakistan's history, under two criminals called Pervaiz Musharraf and Shaukat Aziz.
One wonders and wonders what happened to the erstwhile values of honesty, honor, humility, and professionalism? The best education (of Shaukat Aziz) in the world, and a good family background (of Pervaiz Musharraf) that were thought essential to a good, productive life, went down the drain, and two nincompoops played relentlessly with the life & honor of a nation, with the reputation of a country, and its army, causing such damage that it will take decades to recover from this ignominy.
Pakistan army has suffered as much as the country it was supposed to protect. As curious kids of the 1960's, and as young women, we almost worshipped men in the uniform, be it an officer or a sepoy (soldier). Many dreamt of their Prince Charmings in a uniform. Those dreams of young women and adoring children, that relentless trust of an innocent nation, were trampled under bloodied boots in Islamabad, Baluchistan, Waziristan, & Swat in the last five years.
Gen. Ashfaq Kiyani has taken the first few steps to restore that honor. May he never fall to the temptations of the Devil Incarnate to prolong his evil empire, pretending to fight terrorism. Only the new, legitimate government of Pakistan must lay the groundwork for dealing with problems that do need to be addressed. Pakistan army should advice and implement legislated policies, but must refrain from treading the dangerous path of Gen. Zia and Gen. Musharraf.
I am sure Gen. Kiyani will not follow Zia & Musharraf, no matter what the international players dictate. See, we are still willing to trust, despite bitterness of all these years. I hear that one of the new Chief's clan, Gen. Jamshed Kiyani had boldly told the king he is naked, to his face. He was send home. Yet he will be remembered for speaking up when it mattered most, unlike the clique of retired generals who have suddenly woken up from their collective coma to make their sickening presence felt once again (excluding Air Marshal Noor Khan, a total gentleman and a professional soldier through and through). These time-tested power-brokers now have the audacity to presume Pakistanis have dementia. However, we know this country does not need Tikka Khans & Faiz Chishtis, Hameed Guls & Asad Durranis anymore; we do not even need Asghar Khans & Aslam Begs. These are men of our national nightmares, lacking any vision at any time. They played with the fates of two nations, and have caused such scars, even Time cannot heal them.
What we do need is men like Waheed-Ullah Kakar & perhaps Asif Nawaz Janjua. They were the soldiers that served well and faded gracefully from the limelight when the time came to make an exit. Gen. Kiyani can do even better; destiny has chosen him for this moment; he can rise like a "Mard-e Momin" or fall in disgrace like his many predecessors.
The Kiyanis have shown character. Ashfaq Kiyani has all the stars aligned for him. He must save, strengthen, and restore the reputation of an army that had made us proud in 1965. Under no circumstances should the Pakistan Army engage into politics of this country again. Its time for them to redefine, and remake their image; they have gained enough wisdom of their own in the last 50 years.