Top US officials breaking protocol and directly calling General Bajwa

[Xestan]

Hello,

I don't know how many of you are concerned about this, but I am.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, whose counterpart is our Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi -- directly called GHQ, bypassing the foreign office, and the Prime Minister office and had a conversation with the Army Chief a day after they assassinated the Iranian General.

Two days later, US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper, whose counterpart is our Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, broke protocol and directly opened a line with GHQ and talked to the Army Chief Gen. Bajwa.

Point to note here is, General Bajwa is outranked by at least 3 officials, the CJCSC, the Defence Secretary, and our Defence Minister, at least on paper.

Either, the Americans are upto something they don't trust our civilian Government with, or this is just an attempt to embarrass the Prime Minister and his Government.

At least as a voter, I feel disrespected, imagine what the PM must be feeling about all of this.

His tweet about sending FM to meet representatives of US, Iran and KSA, and Army Chief to get in touch with 'relevant military leaders' shows there's some realisation of this.

What do you all think?

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

No problem Military of Pakistan, Government of Pakistan are on same page

 

[Xestan]

No problem Military of Pakistan, Government of Pakistan are on same page

Same page doesn't mean that the Civilian Government should face humiliation like this. Why do you have a Foreign Office and a Minister when other countries' Foreign Minister/Secretaries are going to call GHQ?

 

[OldenWisdom...قول بزرگ]

I think both followed correct protocol... as long as Pakistanis know who ranks where... Pakistan's ministry of defense is not like U.S. Secretary of Defense and Pakistan's Foreign Ministry is not like Secretary of State ... Maybe it is a call for Pakistan itself to have people with more defined roles and the world will follow.

 

[Xestan]

I think both followed correct protocol... as long as Pakistanis know who ranks where... Pakistan's ministry of defense is not like U.S. Secretary of Defense and Pakistan's Foreign Ministry is not like Secretary of State ... Maybe it is a call for Pakistan itself to have people with more defined roles and the world will follow.

There's a civilian government in Pakistan and the military is a department of the government. I know the reality is different about where power lies, but still, for a foreign nation, bypassing our elected representatives, is very embarrassing.

 

[xyxmt]

There's a civilian government in Pakistan and the military is a department of the government. I know the reality is different about where power lies, but still, for a foreign nation, bypassing our elected representatives, is very embarrassing.

Do you think Khatak can talk to anyone about anything substantial, when you chose lame people for powerful post then what do you expect.

added: He most probably called Khatak first but couldn't get a word out of him except yes, no and thank you.

 

[Protest_again]

There's a civilian government in Pakistan and the military is a department of the government. I know the reality is different about where power lies, but still, for a foreign nation, bypassing our elected representatives, is very embarrassing.

There's another possibility, you are choosing to ignore. It's about 'who's incharge', doesn't matter the protocol.

USA and everyone else know Imran (PM office) is not the power center of Pakistan.

Do you think Khatak can talk to anyone about anything substantial, when you chose lame people for powerful post then what do you expect.

Why was this lame person appointed to such an important post?

 

[OldenWisdom...قول بزرگ]

There's a civilian government in Pakistan and the military is a department of the government. I know the reality is different about where power lies, but still, for a foreign nation, bypassing our elected representatives, is very embarrassing.

The thing you do not understand is progression of power... how does Pakistani state's power distributes to its constituent parts... U.S. has a presidential system and all secretaries of state are President's representatives and not elected officials. Pakistan has a very convoluted system and that is why anyone looking for decision makers will be making circles around irrelevant people. People who have a title but inability to react or decide. That is why in times of urgency decision makers are the most important call. Both could have called Prime Minister but that would have been as you put it not according to the protocol.

 

[El Sidd]

Declare Pompeo as na mahram then to the COAS.

 

[Enigma SIG]

Who knew after successful boot polishing by combined assembly of PTI PPP and PMLN, even US of A is a boot polisher

 

[R Wing]

Hello,

I don't know how many of you are concerned about this, but I am.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, whose counterpart is our Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi -- directly called GHQ, bypassing the foreign office, and the Prime Minister office and had a conversation with the Army Chief a day after they assassinated the Iranian General.

Two days later, US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper, whose counterpart is our Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, broke protocol and directly opened a line with GHQ and talked to the Army Chief Gen. Bajwa.

Point to note here is, General Bajwa is outranked by at least 3 officials, the CJCSC, the Defence Secretary, and our Defence Minister, at least on paper.

Either, the Americans are upto something they don't trust our civilian Government with, or this is just an attempt to embarrass the Prime Minister and his Government.

At least as a voter, I feel disrespected, imagine what the PM must be feeling about all of this.

His tweet about sending FM to meet representatives of US, Iran and KSA, and Army Chief to get in touch with 'relevant military leaders' shows there's some realisation of this.

What do you all think?

Isn't it clear that Bajwa is running the show, especially with how the government is bending over backwards to get him an extension?

 

[Trailer23]

MUST he be?

No. Not at all.

One should know never to compliment someone while addressing another. For example, I know you to be anti-IK, hence I stay clear of complimenting the current Govt., whilst having a conversation with you or that Batman person with the Jinnah avatar...

 

[El Sidd]

No. Not at all.

One should know never to compliment someone while addressing another. For example, I know you to be anti-IK, hence I stay clear of complimenting the current Govt., whilst having a conversation with you or that Batman person with the Jinnah avatar...

On the contrary you have little substance to base your compliments upon and thus cannot do it.

How can addressing Mr. Khan with his surname makes anyone anti IK?

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Hello,

I don't know how many of you are concerned about this, but I am.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, whose counterpart is our Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi -- directly called GHQ, bypassing the foreign office, and the Prime Minister office and had a conversation with the Army Chief a day after they assassinated the Iranian General.

Two days later, US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper, whose counterpart is our Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, broke protocol and directly opened a line with GHQ and talked to the Army Chief Gen. Bajwa.

Point to note here is, General Bajwa is outranked by at least 3 officials, the CJCSC, the Defence Secretary, and our Defence Minister, at least on paper.

Either, the Americans are upto something they don't trust our civilian Government with, or this is just an attempt to embarrass the Prime Minister and his Government.

At least as a voter, I feel disrespected, imagine what the PM must be feeling about all of this.

His tweet about sending FM to meet representatives of US, Iran and KSA, and Army Chief to get in touch with 'relevant military leaders' shows there's some realisation of this.

What do you all think?

I think that while the actual impact of this within Pakistan may not be significant as far as Civil Mil relations go, it isn't a good thing that the US bypassed the proper channels and went directly to the COAS. Given Pakistan's history of military coups and the continued domestic tensions over the extent of the power & influence of the military, this sends the wrong signals and certainly creates a perception that the elected government is powerless.

Hopefully Bajwa discussed this with the Prime Ministers office and clarified that he didn't solicit the phone calls and sought their direction on how to handle such a situation going forward.

 

[Pakistan Space Agency]

What exactly is PM Khan's auqaat outside of Pakistan?

Nobody takes him seriously. World leaders treat him like a child.