Islamabad, June 27; With the induction of a new Prime Minister and Cabinet in Pakistan, and relations with the Supreme Court on the Swiss letter issue remaining unresolved, it becomes even more vital to sustain Civil-Military cohesion and to improve Pak-US relations.
This was a principal conclusion by the Dialogue Group on Civil-Military Relations convened by PILDAT which met in Islamabad today to evaluate the current political scenario and its implications for civil-military relations in Pakistan.
While appreciating the close coordination and determination demonstrated to-date by both the civil and military leadership in dealing with the issues of the Salala incident and the NATO supply routes, the Group stressed the need to be cognizant of vital national interests seen within a global context so as to define acceptable options for an improvement in Pakistan-US relations.
The Group underscored the urgency that Pakistan needs to apply to develop and strengthen mutually-beneficial relations with the US and the Western World in keeping with Pakistan's interests. Pakistan needs to urgently adopt a multi-pronged strategy to find solutions to impending issues.
The Group deplored the crisis in governance engulfing Pakistan and unchecked, rampant corruption. The Group reiterated that while democracy must continue to flourish, its performance has to be evaluated by its capacity to deliver measurable good governance to citizens.
The Group expressed deep concern at the historical tendency in Pakistan for institutions and public office holders to unduly extend their respective mandates and misuse powers instead of exercising due and proper restraint.
Recognising the complexity of the situation in North Waziristan and noting the incessant demands of the US for action against the Haqqani network, allegedly based there, the Group noted that the Parliament of Pakistan has categorically affirmed that the country's territory will not be used to conduct terrorist activities against any other nation. Any action to curb terrorist activities must be done with due regard to the potential fallout in the tribal belt and other parts of Pakistan. There is a need to strengthen the civil and development dimensions in that area. Any future action to combat terrorism must also take into account the military's capacity in view of their already existing operations in other tribal agencies and its general responsibilities.
Recognising the high-level of political awareness in the people of Pakistan, the Group observed that, on some subjects, such as the resumption of NATO supply routes, emotive and extremist viewpoints, coupled with threats of violence, are antithetical to reasoned, peaceful discussion and to democratic values. The Group urged that the elected Government should take decision in the best interests of the nation alone.
The Group also hosted former Director General ISPR, Major General Athar Abbas for a farewell lunch in his honour. The Group paid rich tributes to Major General Abbas for very deftly and ably managing the challenging task of articulating the views of Pakistan's Armed Forces in the public domain. Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production, Mr. Nadeem Afzal Gondal, MNA, Chairman Public Accounts Committee and Mr. Wazir Ahmed Jogezai, former Deputy Speaker National Assembly, also joined the Group in bidding farewell to Major General Athar Abbas.
Members of the Dialogue Group who joined the meeting and farewell lunch included Mr. Omar Khan Afridi, Former Federal Minister, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Humayun Bangash, Former Ambassador, Senator Hasil Bizenjo, National Party, Balochistan, Member Parliamentary Committee on National Security, Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Shahzad Chaudhry, Columnist, former Ambassador, Lt Gen (Retd.) Moinuddin Haider, Former Governor, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Asad Durrani, Former DG ISI, MI, Mr. Shahid Hamid, Former Governor, Mr. Javed Jabbar, Former Senator & Federal Minister for Information & Media Development, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Talat Masood, Former Federal Secretary, Vice Admiral (Retd) Khalid Mir, Former Ambassador, Dr. Hasan-Askari Rizvi, Political & Defence Analyst, Mr. Mujib-ur-Rehman Shami, Editor-in-Chief, Daily Pakistan, Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Executive Director, PILDAT and Ms. Aasiya Riaz, Joint Director, PILDAT.
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