Kayani’s extension is Zardari’s insurance
General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani will be Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff till 2013. But the three-year extension he has been given in the name of “continuity” in the war against terrorism on the borders with Afghanistan shows the PPP-led government as weak and subservient when it comes to dealing with the Khakis.The General’s a Punjabi unlike Pervez Musharraf who was always conscious of his Mohajir roots that made him a bit vulnerable in the Army set-up dominated by Punjabis and Pakhtoons.
His image at home took a beating when troops stormed Islamabad’s Lal Masjid (occupied by Islamic fundamentalists) and went after Baloch Nationalist Nawab Akbar Bugti in Balochistan.
Politically, these actions made Musharraf the most isolated military ruler in Pakistan’s history. Kayani in contrast is given credit for the successful military action in Swat and South Waziristan to clear the areas of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan whose armed cadres had surged dangerously close to Islamabad.
There are no prizes for guessing therefore as to who holds the reins of power? It’s Kayani without doubt though Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani ordered his extension in consultation with President Asif Zardari.
The powers these worthies have on paper are a trifle misleading. The recent Constitutional reforms only saw a civilian President ceding his powers (to dissolve the assembly or appoint the services chiefs) to a civilian Premier. The third face in the troika— that of the Army Chief — remained unaffected by the changes touted as a major achievement of Parliament and the ruling Pakistan People’s Party.
In his extended tenure, Kayani will outlast Zardari and Gilani in office. He did indeed help democracy by remaining aloof in the 2008 elections that brought the PPP to power and routed the pro-Army PML (Quaid) backed by Musharraf, who by then had given up the office of COAS and was merely the President.
It is ironic but true. In order to survive in office, the PPP leadership has picked up the PML-Q’s traits to ingratiate with the Army. The consequence: the civilian rulers’ isn’t the final word on Afpak, India-Pak and Pak-US relations. The veto is with Kayani and his cabinet of corps commanders.
Pro-democracy elements in Pakistan are irreconcilable to the idea of India emphasizing the military’s pre-eminence in their affairs. But the Army’s pivotal position in their system and the power-structure cannot be underplayed or ignored, especially when the civilian leadership isn’t above being on the right side of the generals.
They’re prone to dancing to their tunes even if it means disrupting the peace tango with New Delhi. The case in point here is Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s less than diplomatic conduct in the recent talks with S M Krishna.
Even the US understands the Army’s relevance and plays accordingly. The delegation Qureshi led to Washington some weeks ago had Kayani as its guiding member.
From India’s standpoint, it’s necessary to understand the thinking of the Khakis —- especially with regard to action on David Hedley’s evidence implicating the ISI for 26/11. Mutual trust will be the casualty if Pakistan does not move to book and get punished the conspirators of the Mumbai attacks.
To sustain dialogue and have people in India backing it, Kayani raher than Zardari or Gilani has to play the impresario for peace. But will he?
Looks improbable. The Pak Army sees a realizable chance of establishing its writ in Afghanistan. And to prevent that, India has to keep harping on the Hedley evidence to show that Islamabad cannot be trusted to replace the US and NATO forces in the Hindukush.
Hindustan Times


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Vikram Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 9:46 am
Thats a boatload of BS. Like other Pak generals Kayani is a rabid India and Hindu hater and will justify anything to hurt us (which probably means he is a good general for you) . Please dont relate it with some of your Masters generals – he has probably put a gun on Zardaris head to get that extension
As far as afganistan is concerned Pakistan continues its evil designs on another neighboring country, holds its people to ransom, supports terrorists and anyone who will lay the country waste just so that they can reap the benefits like parasites. Is it something you people learn from your mothers milk. I am amazed how you talk about ’some kind of arrangement’ and being facilitators as if Pakistan is leading some diplomatic negotiations. Its more like being a extortionist. And again just a honest days work for you people and you will not know the difference
What India has to understand is that we always have to fight barbarians on our western borders. Its better we learn to treat our enemies as enemies and avoid wasting any time talking with them since it will only be used by you guys to bide for time and strike whenever you get a chance. you dont give a **** about the kashmiris or the pashtuns or the shias or the ahmadiyas or the baluch or even the mohajirs.
btw I just dont understand why you shameless people keep reading and commenting n Indian blogs. It is Hindustan times not Pakistan time ..so bug off
[Reply]
Sal Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
@Vikram
Let me tell you this blog of Hindustan times is discussing Pak.. So It make sense for any one accross the border to come here and post his comment.
You talk about Kiyani..This is none of your business..You better take care of your Kashmiris who are on the streets this whole months and asking for Iddependence. Then there are 2 dozens of separatist movements going on in every corner of India..And Should I talk about Maoist and their famous Red Corridor and the reason why Moaist are fighting..Perhaps this is your widespread deep poverty which made them to fight.
After killing thousands of Sikhs and Muslims, raped nuns, burnt Churches, burnt mosques, Babri mosuqe, golden Temple yoiu talk about minorities in Pak. Have you ever read Sachar Commission Report published in 2006.
You are the worse shameless people who exists on the planet who killed countless numbers of sikhs, muslims, dalits and even raped thier women and then shamelesly talk about minorities of other country.
[Reply]
Rajeev Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
Sal,
The people of pakistan destroyed hundreds of temple to avenge Babri demolition. How can you justify that? Even today, your govt. is encroaching on Hindu land and temples. You are killing Hindu, xtians, Shia, Ahmediyas..and Balochis.
You have decimated your minorities whereas minority population especially muslims has grown 5 times since independence. This speaks volumes about how we treat minorities and how you treat your minorities.
(Dr.) B.N.Anand Reply:
July 29th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
Hello sal
For once, I agree with you. When the situation in Pakistan is being discussed on this blog and on an India Newspaper website, you have a right to be party and defend your self. Wish if it could have been done by you in a more civilised way with a broader prospecticve rather than from a narrow point of view with a petty mind.
BNA
Ahmer Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
@ Vikram & Sal
This is turning into a mud slinging match… Vikram, Sal has every right to participate in this discussion and even if we don’t agree with the views that he represents we should still respect his effort in presenting them.
Sal, we’ll take care of ‘our Kashmir’ and other internal problems and will even discuss them in length when the topic at hand relates to them… it does not in this case. If you can share more of your perspective on this issue as a citizen of Pakistan then that will be more interesting and welcome!
[Reply]
imran Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
@Vikram
thats what wrong with indians they think they can built them self a buncker..and ignore its western border…..but they on the same time want to be the big global power….. its time for the indians to ponder on ashokas’ wisdom…..but this time you dont need to kill millions on both side…..
@Vinod Sharma : i think we r in a bitter dead lock…. india says act on 26/11 first….pak says no every thing on the table first….we need some back channel diplomacy….india need to move forward on the composite talk in those back channel…while in few month time they will see if or not pak is taking action on 26/11….this is not the time for photo oppt……. and kayani needs india assurance on kashmir or composite dialogue….just like india moved forward on kashmir with musharraf……
[Reply]
Ahmer Reply:
July 28th, 2010 at 12:56 am
@imran,
“thats what wrong with indians they think they can built them self a buncker..and ignore its western border…..but they on the same time want to be the big global power….. its time for the indians to ponder on ashokas’ wisdom…..but this time you dont need to kill millions on both side…..”
What are you talking about?