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| Is Pak army General Kiyani following Parvez Musharraf's foot steps? | | | Early Times Special Correspondent
Jammu | June 26
News Analysis
The latest reports emanating from Pakistan as well as intelligence sources and US experts on currents and cross currents in Pakistan, the impression created earlier about Pak army General, Chief of the Armed Forces of that country being a professional soldier, not medaling into the political affairs of the country, stand refuted. There are reports that the Pak army, who has developed a vested interest in armed twisting of the political establishment in that country and indulging in maneuvers to dominate the scene, is watching the developments in the political field in the country and may not hesitate to step in as and when they find the ground slipping from under their feet and the role of army getting under mind.
While holding dialogue with Pakistan, for resolving disputes, New Delhi must not lose sight of some important factors and latest developments taking place on that side. Firstly, despite a democratically elected government having assumed power in Pakistan the political volatility, the downward economy and the precarious security situation in that country, the Army led by Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani has again become the centre of power. This fact is symbolized by two recent events, which raised many eyebrows even within Pakistan. The first was that Prime Minister Geelani called on the Army's General Head Quarter in Rawalpindi, during which he referred to the Army not merely as the defender of Pakistan's borders, but also as the guardian of the Country's ideological frontiers. Thus he conceded to the Army a permanent political role in the country.
Still more significant development pointing towards the same direction has been that the Prime Minister Geelani accompanied by PPP Co Chairman Asif Zaradari and his Foreign and Defense Ministers also visited the head quarters of ISI and was briefed by ISI Chief Lt. Gen. Nadeem Taj about the external and internal security environment, thereby acknowledging that the ISI is the army controlled and not the civilian run Intelligence Bureau, which would continue its role of dabbling in the internal politics of the country.
Further, with Nawaz Sharief having directed ministers from the PML (N) to resign from Geelani ministry, over differences on the restoration of judges sacked by Gen. Parvez Musharraf, Geelani heads a virtual minority government in Pakistan. Under the circumstances there is every possibility of PPP joining hands with the pro Musharraf faction of Muslim league, to continue in power.
Even before Indian External Affair Minister, Pranab Mukherjee arrived in Islamabad last month, Gen. Kiyani had made his view of dialogue with India on Jammu and Kashmir quite clear, stating while visiting the troops on the LoC that in keeping with the sentiments of the people of Pakistan its army would never turn its back on the aspirations of the people of Kashmir. Taking cue from the views from the Army Chief, politicians of all colours in Pakistan joined the chorus vowing to fight for a plebiscite and implementation of UN resolution on Jammu and Kashmir. The Prime Minister Geelani followed suit, describing President Musharraf's proposals to resolve the Kashmir issue, which had constituted the basis of dialogue with India for the past three years, as "half baked".
Despite this rhetoric remaining continued throughout Mukerjee's visit to Pakistan, no Indian functionary tried to set the record straight by asserting that the Indian government is bound by the provision of the parliamentary resolution of 1994, which declares whole state of Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India and that Pakistan will have to vacate areas of the state occupied by it illegally, through aggression.
Still there are some other dark clouds on the horizon which cannot be ignored. Apart from the infiltration and terrorist strike in Samba and the cease fire violations on the LoC by Pakistan army, there are credible reports of about 500 jehadis being kept ready for infiltration across the LoC. The united Jehad Council, which coordinates terrorist strikes across the LoC has been activated. Maulana Masood Azhar, the leader of the Jaish-e-Mohammed which masterminded the attack on Indian parliament has been released and is spiting venom against India. The Chief of the Lashkar-e-Toiba Hafaz, Mohammed Sayeed is also roaming freely and giving calls for Jehad. Leaders of the separatist Kashmir Hurriyat Conference are all set to visit Pakistan next month and seek advise and direction from the government leaders as well as the Army Generals in that country. JKLF Chief Yaseen Malik has since returned to Kashmir after holding parleys with the leaders of extremist Jamiat Islami in Pakistan. Further the ISI is preparing to disturb the forthcoming elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting between the Hurriyat Conference (M) Chief Maulvi Umer Farooq who these days is touring Pakistan and PoK, with UJC Chief, Salah-ud-Din and the latter welcoming the unity moves between the two factions of the Hurriyat and holding threats to Amarnath Yatra in Kashmir, are significant developments which have dangerous portents.
Last but not the least Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud's latest proclamation, "Islam does not recognize frontiers". Our jehad against infidel will continue", cannot be lost sight of by the strategists and policy framers viz a viz Pakistan, in India. |
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