Having an army be comprised of a generational stock representing one particular region and ethnicity is a really great way to lay the grounds for eventually civil war. Take a look at east Pakistan. Whatever army such an approach produces is not worth it.If I need to explain more than what I have written, then we won't bridge the understanding gap.
Only thing I'll say is that being part of a military whether as a soldier or as an officer is a multi-generational thing. These ought to be and generally in good militaries are a family profession. And yes you'll find your fair share of duffers even then, but you hope that the military will ween them out. But if anyone thinks that in an environment like Pakistan especially that we can widen the field and somehow think we won't degrade the caliber, we are wrong.
Niazi, Yayha were inspite of this system, not because of it. Now it is a free for all and the "sifarasee" culture at Boards is becoming front and center. Yes this did not happen overnight, and many are to blame for it. One avenue was developing an officer corp pool outside of the normal field. Things in the past, whether family, or Zaat, were an essential calculus. You can hate the English, but they were masters at figuring these things and kept copious notes on how they went about finding the best. Whether we like it or not, there was a method to their madness.
The only thing that should matter is any institution is merit. Not family or ethnicity.
This is bullshit- what aristocratic family did MM Alam come from? What was his ethnicity?I alluded to this conspicuous absence of Pukhtuns of late in the top brass when the opposite was true until the 90's and I was ostracized by the Army brats and Punjabi nationalists here. The last high profile Pukhtun core commander was TK and there hasn't been one pushing the COAS mantle for some time.
And I do agree, officer corps has to come from aristocratic/elite backgrounds who have the confidence and gravitas to lead men and handle high pressured multi-dimensional environment. Sadly this only applies to nation that weren't thoroughly colonized unlike us. The elites in our country are doubly beholden to colonial powers.
If you have meritocracy, it will follow that the middle class will be over represented but this is a good thing.
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