General Kayani speaks up against the Kerry Lugar Bill

[sonicboom]

Thursday, October 08, 2009

By Kamran Khan

KARACHI: When the top military commanders declared their serious concern regarding clauses of the Kerry-Lugar Bill impacting on the national security, the top brass had knowledge and evidence that a few elements within the government deployed resources to lobby several key United States congressmen for inclusion of anti-military and anti-nuclear programme segments in the controversial US aid bill, informed officials said.

“This is actually an attempt to cripple the Pakistan Army and the ISI and it is not the first or last attempt. There are some elements with clandestine job in all this,” said an informed official, who disclosed that Pakistani security officials were constantly getting information from their sources in Washington that illustrated vast difference between the public and private positions adopted by individuals and organizations representing Pakistan’s national interest in Washington.

In Islamabad, security officials have gathered information, supported by telephone intercepts and other secret recordings that showed tremendous eagerness in the holder of an important office that Pakistan military related clauses should remain included in the bill.

Individuals and friends of the same person were found bragging on “coming jolt to the Army from America” numerous times in private chitchat since early July this year. Informed Pakistani officials insist that the present attempt to undermine the Pakistan Army and the ISI’s area of influence in framing Pakistan’s strategic and national security priorities was the Act 2 of a similar attempt made in July last year.

On July 27 of last year, the prime minister was asked to sign a stunning notification ordering to place the entire financial, administrative and operational control of the ISI with the Interior Ministry. The order was reversed within a few hours when the prime minister detected foul play.

Surprisingly, the Kerry-Lugar Bill revisited the same issue by expanding the scope from just the ISI to the entire military services of Pakistan. The bill dictated an American oversight for the process and made it a condition for an uninterrupted flow of US aid to Pakistan. The bill said: “An assessment of the extent to which the government of Pakistan exercises effective civilian control of the military will be carried out regularly.”

The bill proceeded to demand an effective “civilian control” of the promotion of senior military leaders, military budgets, the chain of command and strategic guidance and planning.

While the military leadership discussed the serious implications of the Kerry-Lugar Bill on national security, military strategists and commanders have also discussed in great length the options, alternatives and opportunities that may need to be addressed, if parliament decides not to accept the bill with its present content.

A growing sense in the Pakistani national security community speaks of a thorough review of Pakistan’s security relationship with the United States, which ran into severe strains weeks before the controversial Kerry-Lugar Bill became public.

With the evidence that has been produced before Pakistan’s top military brass on involvement of some important personalities in bolstering humiliating anti-military clauses on Tuesday, material was also produced to prove unregulated entry into Pakistan of scores of American officials, unauthorised acquisition of weapons and in one grave instance an attempted diversion of a substantial quantity of weapons imported for a Pakistani para-military outfit to the American embassy has secret support of some influential individuals in the echelons of power, officials disclosed.

Certain individuals targeted Army, ISI

 

[gubbi]

Thursday, October 08, 2009

By Kamran Khan

KARACHI: When the top military commanders declared their serious concern regarding clauses of the Kerry-Lugar Bill impacting on the national security, the top brass had knowledge and evidence that a few elements within the government deployed resources to lobby several key United States congressmen for inclusion of anti-military and anti-nuclear programme segments in the controversial US aid bill, informed officials said.

“This is actually an attempt to cripple the Pakistan Army and the ISI and it is not the first or last attempt. There are some elements with clandestine job in all this,” said an informed official, who disclosed that Pakistani security officials were constantly getting information from their sources in Washington that illustrated vast difference between the public and private positions adopted by individuals and organizations representing Pakistan’s national interest in Washington.

In Islamabad, security officials have gathered information, supported by telephone intercepts and other secret recordings that showed tremendous eagerness in the holder of an important office that Pakistan military related clauses should remain included in the bill.

Individuals and friends of the same person were found bragging on “coming jolt to the Army from America” numerous times in private chitchat since early July this year. Informed Pakistani officials insist that the present attempt to undermine the Pakistan Army and the ISI’s area of influence in framing Pakistan’s strategic and national security priorities was the Act 2 of a similar attempt made in July last year.
Certain individuals targeted Army, ISI

So how long before da sh!t hits da fan? Caan I get a box seat just like da last time I saw Mush order his men to climb gates?

On a serious note, this seems to be fear mongering to undermine the civilian govt and control the aid money. Gen Kiyani doesnt seem like a person interested in political power and hopefully restrains others from launching another coup. If the civilian govt collapses, Pakistan would face another 'dark' decade, atleast, like the 2000's.

 

[Vassnti]

Though the essence of the article might be true do you really think the ISI would risk assets by revealing what they are intercepting and recording in washington?
There seems to be a tendency to stick, Top military comanders or ISI sources at the front of every opinion piece to give it substance.

 

[batmannow]

IF THESE [POLIOTICIANS] cant bring good, to pakistan thn , its better to have a silence, but this time it could become bloody!
DEMOCRAZY, never worked for pakistan in the past, & it will never going to work in the future, because 99% of these so called[polioticians] were the richest of a poor nation, who are in the poliotics, to make more money!

 

[Renegade]

The biggest problem that the Pakistan Army has with the bill is the provision for civilian control over the military in matters like transprency of the defence budget and control over postings of senior generals.

It is also quiet ironical in the sense that most Pakistanis blame Washington for supporting successive Military regimes in Islamabad and this time when Washington comes out with a bill that will help the civilian government extend its legitimate control and give a chance for democratic instutions to find a firm footing, there is huge opposition to the Kerry-Luger bill. Seems like double standards are not the perogative of the US alone as alleged by most Pakistanis.

 

[courageneverdies]

So how long before da sh!t hits da fan? Caan I get a box seat just like da last time I saw Mush order his men to climb gates?

Never!!! Show's over boy go to your home. Army is not going in to politics, never. Army has got back its reputation very hardly after Mush departs.

On a serious note, this seems to be fear mongering to undermine the civilian govt and control the aid money. Gen Kiyani doesnt seem like a person interested in political power and hopefully restrains others from launching another coup. If the civilian govt collapses, Pakistan would face another 'dark' decade, atleast, like the 2000's.

None of your buisness for what army said is because of the conditions in Kerry-Lugar bill regarding that organization. Army is working with govt, e.g. Op. Rah-e-Rast, Rah-e-Nijat and Independence of Judiciary. Long March could have been the best time for army to do so but the didn't and kept people like u to keep biting nails.

No darkness for Pakistan now, bright will be it for all the times to come.

Stop interferring with Pakistani matters and rescue your people drowning in flood.

KIT Over n Out

 

[waraich66]

Corps commanders express concern over Kerry-Lugar By Iftikhar A. Khan
Thursday, 08 Oct, 2009 The Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani presiding over the 122 Corps Commanders Conference held at General Headquarters on Wednesday. —ISPR World
Masses of opium recovered in fresh joint forces raid MEDIA GALLERY
Pakistan: Combating terrorism ISLAMABAD: The military-government differences on the conditions attached to an aid legislation approved by the US Congress, the so-called Kerry-Lugar bill, became more pronounced on Wednesday after the army’s top commanders, through a carefully drafted press statement, expressed their ‘serious concerns’ on some of the clauses of the bill that they believe would affect ‘national security’.

At the same time they asked the government to build a national response on the controversial bill through a debate in the parliament.

Unlike a benign two-line statement that is usually issued after most of the corps commanders’ meetings, the one released to the media on Wednesday left absolutely no doubt that the top brass was not only gravely disturbed over the conditions linked to the American aid legislation, they wanted to make their views public instead of just communicating them to the government through a formal channel.

The corps commanders’ meeting, presided over by Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, decided to provide a formal input to the government. Mindful of the way the world views Pakistan and its nascent democratic institutions, the corps commanders’ forum observed that the parliament, which represented the will of the people, would deliberate on the issue, ‘enabling the government to develop a national response’.

Unusual as the army commanders’ statement may be, it came against the backdrop of a raging debate in the country on the finer points of the Kerry-Lugar bill, which aims to provide billions of dollars in aid for social uplift in the country, particularly in areas directly affected by militancy and terrorism.

The army’s objections mainly related to the clauses about the country’s nuclear programme, suggestions of Pakistan’s support for cross-border militancy and civilian government’s role in military promotions and appointments.

Although it was nearly impossible to find out what really transpired at the closed-door meeting of the corps commanders, or who said what during the debate on the US aid bill, the statement issued by the Inter-services Public Relations (ISPR) captured to some extent the essence of what might have been discussed by the high command. But even before a formal reaction from the military, a number of opposition politicians and some analysts had started targeting the aid package. A number of critics, e.g. Chaudhry Shujaat, describe it as a ‘sell-out’. A few others from the main opposition PML-N, e.g. Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, said the conditions amounted to a compromise on national sovereignty.

However, senior government leaders, from President Asif Ali Zardari down to Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, thought it was a great piece of legislation and a pro-democracy bill, which might go a long way in strengthening pro-public institutions in the country.

Even on Wednesday after the issuance of the statement by the ISPR about corps commanders’ reservations, presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar took pains to explain that most of the criticism of the government was unfounded as it was a piece of US legislation, and not something signed by the Pakistani president or prime minister.

When asked if the development was indicative of deteriorating relations between the army and the government, he said: ‘I have learnt not to make public comments on civil-military relations.’ However, he said the Kerry Lugar bill had been passed by the US Congress. ‘There is no commitment by the Pakistani government.’

Democratic process

His own view of the bill was that ‘If some people think that they should not accept even economic aid, under the directions of the US Congress to the US administration, then they should have their own choice.’

The spokesman said security forces would neither undermine the democratic process nor support militancy. ‘This is something we have promised to ourselves. There is no harm in it if we are sincere with our promises.’

The presidential spokesman dispelled a perception that accepting aid under the bill would amount to admission that the army and the intelligence agencies were still abetting terrorists. He pointed out that former president Pervez Musharraf had on Jan 6, 2004, signed with then Indian Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee a document pledging that Pakistani territory would not be allowed to be used for militant activities. ‘If it was not considered an admission that time, why this fuss now,’ he wondered.

The government, which describes the passage of the Kerry-Lugar bill as a major foreign policy success, succumbed to the pressure of the opposition when it announced earlier this week that the bill would be presented before parliament.

A PML-N leader said the army, through its apex forum, had raised ‘genuine concerns’ about the country’s security. He said the position taken by the army had been welcomed in party circles. The government had failed to take the stakeholders on board about security-related issues. ‘Had parliament been sovereign the president would have been answerable to it,’ the PML-N leader remarked.

But even when some opponents of the government were quite pleased with the ISPR statement, with a few even suggesting that a ‘countdown’ for the government might have started, the tone of debate on the Kerry-Lugar bill somehow negated this impression.

Although the main opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar was quite critical of the US legislation, he declared at the very outset that under no circumstances his party would support any extra-constitutional move to remove or even destabilise the government.

Premier Gilani adopted an equally conciliatory tone. He referred to the ISPR statement and criticism of the bill, declaring that he would try to evolve a consensus on the matter.

However, sources told Dawn that during a late-night meeting at the Aiwan-i-Sadr, President Zardari once again told the participants, including Prime Minister Gilani, that the bill was a ‘pro-democracy aid package’ which needed to be defended in parliament and at other public forums.

It was not clear to what extent the government would be willing to go to defend the bill, or whether a compromise would be reached through parliament to defuse the situation. But until then, many seasoned analysts believe that tension will continue to mount between the civilian government and the military leadership on ways of tackling the controversial issue.

 

[PakShaheen79]

It was bound to happen. Next 48 hours will be really interesting now. Army very cleverly threw ball in government's court. Now the real test of leadership begins.

 

[TalibanSwatter]

News Jang Group Editorial

Thursday, October 08, 2009
The civilian government and the military are now quite openly at odds over the conditions included in the Kerry-Lugar Bill. The military top brass has reportedly been angered by those provisions which state that the effectiveness of control of the government over the military establishment is to be assessed. The military has also expressed strong reservations to its US counterparts. However right the vision of the civilian government exercising control over the military may be (and indeed the failure to realize this vision lies at the root of most of our political woes), it is only natural that the instance of a foreign power telling a sovereign country what to do with itself is found irksome. To be fair to General Kayani and his men, the language of the bill is harsh and unnecessarily crude at various points. A more gracefully phrased piece of legislation would have done everybody good.

Having said that, we hasten to add that we must move beyond the present reality of Pakistan where the military cannot be questioned, criticized or held accountable. Elected governments must have control over the army and the agencies. The dichotomy of power that exists at the moment makes the smooth functioning of the setup almost impossible. In any system there needs to be a clearly defined chain of command and authority and the concept of democracy is clear about where the greater say lies. This concept has to turn into the real spirit behind the political process in Pakistan if we are to get anywhere as a nation in the 21st century with honour and dignity.

The impression that the military is reluctant to play a role subservient to that of that government remains strong. There are obvious dangers in this. Already warnings are coming in of a potentially dangerous clash arising in the coming weeks. The president, the prime minister and the foreign minister have all strongly defended the Kerry-Lugar Bill as a triumph of their policies and called on members of their party to back it. But what they have failed to acknowledge is the impact of the bill on Pakistan's sovereignty and the fact that it will strengthen the idea that the US is dictating terms. As always happens when rifts open up, there are elements at work who seek to exploit them. We can see this happening today. The need is for rationality and good sense to kick in. Pakistan would benefit from the Kerry-Lugar Bill and the aid offered under it, but portions of it could do with a redraft. All parties should sit together, carefully ponder the issues and remember that the interests of the country must come before all else. General Kayani has said on more than one occasion that he will stay clear of politics. The time may be coming for him to prove that he is willing to hold true to this pledge and to allow the role of institutions to be redefined.

 

[waraich66]

I think opposition will also support PA for their serious concerns.

It may be turning point of PAK - US future relation and will be another shock for US already in deep **** in Afghanistan.

 

[BATMAN]

This explains the fast track establishment of TTP in SWAT and attacks on security convoys.
Interior ministry and home ministry and are share responsibility of every act of TTP.

 

[Javed3]

Kerry-Lugar bill is an internal US law; Pakistan has no role in accepting or rejecting it. Zardari’s defense of the bill is absurd because he has absolutely no role. Pakistan is absolutely free to follow what it likes; the Bill is not enforceable here. The most the Americans can do is to block payments authorized under the bill, in whole or in part.

US$ 1.5 b / year equates to about US$ 9 / year (Rs 720) as the price of sovereignty per capita. Perhaps we can consider a sell out to anybody for a bit more decent amount.

 

[fatman17]

pls dont mislead the statements made by the 3 arms of the forces - all the army has done is show "genuine reservations" about certain provisions (202 and 302) of the bill - if one read's the bill, its really insulting (except to the PPP govt) because they want to weaken the influence of the army in-directly (read US).

the army has clearly stated that the final decision on the acceptance of the bill lies with the parliament and not the president and his cohorts (malik, haqqanni, r/pervez, f/wahab etc). remember zardari has asked the PPP to "defend" the bill !!! - what does that tell us !

on hindsight, when the bill was tabled in 2007 by joe biden (who is VP now),things on the ground in pakistan were different and by the time the bill has been passed (1 yr later), things in pakistan have taken a 360* change. therefore it was the duty of the foreign office to canvass the congress about the changes in the ground realities, which they were not able to do and lo and behold we get a bill which is devoid of the actual position on the ground. who is to blame for this? - the government of the PPP.

if president obama dosnt sign off the bill within 10 days, it becomes law.

pak/US relations are now moving in the wrong direction - look for tough times ahead!

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

It is true that the Bill conditions are not enforceable on Pakistan and that Pakistan is free to accept or reject them, but it is the principle of the thing.

The US claims it wants to construct a mutually beneficial and strategic relationship with Pakistan and have a long term commitment with the region. Passing a bill with such insulting conditions, both in terms of accusing Pakistan of supporting terrorism and trying to meddle in how the Political-Military relationship is structured or how powers are distributed is not reflective of either respect for Pakistan or a desire to build a relationship based on trust and respect.

It is nothing but more arrogance and abuse.

 

[Kasrkin]

on hindsight, when the bill was tabled in 2007 by joe biden (who is VP now),things on the ground in pakistan were different and by the time the bill has been passed (1 yr later), things in pakistan have taken a 360* change. therefore it was the duty of the foreign office to canvass the congress about the changes in the ground realities, which they were not able to do and lo and behold we get a bill which is devoid of the actual position on the ground. who is to blame for this? - the government of the PPP.

I think what happened was fairly obvious. The likes of Hussain Haqqani who is supposed to be our point man in Washington can hardly be expected to demonstrate some opposition to the tone or wordings of this bill. Given that he himself spent the last 7-8 years before he joined the government maligning the armed forces of Pakistan, accusing them of playing a double game in regards to the WoT and harboring ill intent and undue power in the country's power-structure. Now would we really expect him to mount a defense of Pakistan's institutions, pointing out that Pakistan hasn't been supporting terrorism and that its not for the US to decide the dynamics and particulars of Pakistan's complex and unique civil-military structure.

At the end of the day, more than Indian lobbying we have our own politicians to blame. Almost each and everyone of our politicians (including Haqqani) has been moaning and whining about the US showing 'no concern' for the state of Pakistan's democracy which frankly I've found disgusting. Through out Musharraf's term we had our opposition politicians going to Washington and approaching senators, insisting that America stop aid to Pakistan and make exactly these sorts of conditions. Musharraf, for all his obvious shortcomings, never went to the US asking their government officials to undermine his opponents. But thats exactly what his political opponents did. Now the Americans are bitter, they don't want to part with the money and they don't want to respect us anymore than they ever did. On top of that we have the Indians. Its inevitable that we have this abomination of bill to deal with, and frankly this whole issue is not going to be fixed soon.

The way the PPP has tried to defend the bill is shameful. They've also accused the army of stepping out of line for merely stating that they've discussed it and sent their reservations to the government and that they expect the parliament to make the right choice. Even Karzi, with his terminally corrupt 'rule' and his criminal war and drug lord lieutenants doesn't have to face such blatant scorn for sucking up endless billions in US and western aid. The fact of the matter is that NO one would accept this, be it Turkey, Jordan, Egypt or even India. And we're Pakistan, arguably the single most critical country to US foreign policy objectives right now. Whatever happens now, its going to be messy. We blame the Americans all we want for their contemptuous arrogance, and we'd be right to; but the fault lies with us too and the way we ruin Pakistan's respect for our shallow selfish purposes.