Editor’s Note: In a recent exchange with Gen. Aziz, I mentioned American willingness to throw financial and military resources at the US presence in Afghanistan to “finish the job.” Here’s his response.
“Finish the job,” you say. Hunt out Osama? Wrap up global terrorism?
Not long ago, you taught a set of values to these people, a little different than we require now. You taught them to live by those values, to hold them dearer than life, and to readily die for them. That was jihad. Today, the jihadists are in the hundreds of thousands, and the Pashtun belt of Afghanistan and Pakistan’s tribal regions are overflowing with religious fervor. Then, this had been nurtured. With US benevolence, General Zia-ul-Huq fostered those same values in the Army and the youth of the nation, which is still struggling to grow up. Implications are untold.
Today, there are over 40,000 NATO soldiers in Afghanistan and none of them are involved in what you could qualify as either “hunting Osama” or “wrapping up global terrorism.” All the “terrorism” that is spreading in the region is because of the presence of these troops. Any country, what to talk of one with Afghan history and mores, would fight a foreign occupation army. And the Afghan Pashtun has been trained, at great cost, to struggle. All the operations of these NATO troops as well as the Afghan security forces are directed towards these “terrorists,” or should I say “freedom fighters.” But I don’t, because of the ugly things they end up doing. Will not conflict bring forth the best and the worst in us? Nevertheless, one is the cause for the existence of the other. They will coexist indefinitely – at a phenomenal cost for all those involved, and achieve neither of these objectives. But if the objective is to find cause to stay here, then let chaos prevail; and it will creep up to your door.
The spillover of extremism in Pakistan coupled with the current political chaos has unforeseen consequences.
What is the job? What is the best way to go about it? Is there a timeframe? Are there cost parameters, extents to collateral damage, ethical inhibitions or even possible end-scenarios?
Is there reason to consider it or should it be left undefined?
Lt. Gen. Shahid Aziz is a retired general of the Pakistan Army and former Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau.
5 responses so far ↓
1 Abdul khaliq // Nov 12, 2007 at 5:46 am
Hi sir,
symbolic compromise on small issues would lead us to eventual big surrender.We evaded one punch in 2001 but how far we have gone down.Nations can withstand a military defeat and still survive but idealogical disintegration would wipe out the nation from the map of the history.We need to judge our actions in the light of that,
sincerely mess secratory if you remember
2 Sarah Arshad // Nov 14, 2007 at 5:11 am
We may be a semi asleep nation but its time to wake up!! It’s in the air. We as muslims are told to hold on to “Allah ki rassi” not anyone else’s. Everybody knows whats going on. May Allah give us the strength to stand on our own two feet, may our faith be the backbone of our whole nation, may Allah protect all the muslims around the world and May we be one! Amin. My darling Dadu, i love you forever!!
3 Parvez Mahmud // Nov 15, 2007 at 1:05 am
I have a question for good general. Why Pakistan armed forces have not produced a civilian political leader all these years. They have knowledge, discipline and experience. After retirement they simply fade away. In my mind, army is losing support of ordinary people and it could be very detrimental to security of Pakistan. There is a need of a person who has the vision to bring unity and balance to the situation.
4 Rashid Khan // Nov 19, 2007 at 5:24 am
How politely we are discussing an issue which should ideally be a pity for the nation. A war fought for pure commercial control, laden with a super power’s lust (individual agenda’s included) for oil and dollars, on the side funding the international arms trade, all fuelled by the blood of muslims.
The americans are very free with the use of the word ‘terrorist. It is perhaps due to the fact that they have more claim on the word, being an english speaking nation!!
In my opinion there is but one form of terror for 3rd world countries like us – the terror of economic sanctions, the terror of american and allied forces eventually raiding your country, destroying, reconstructing, betraying and again befriending, ignoring, encouraging, teaching lessons – America is the big daddy and wants the whole world to know it – but obviously they would have us believe that this is not terror..at least not in the American perspective..just living the golden dream. Movies and buttered popcorn and life goes on eh???!!
Imagine the latest ‘terrorist’ in America’s list, obvioulsy dutifully implemented by our beloved President, is Imran Khan!!!!
Knowing what we know and seeing what we see, if we do nothing as individuals, we deserve the state of our country that we so like lament on in our everyday dinner table political talk.
Good luck to all of us as the people of Pakistan – for what is happening in Afghanistan and NWFP will surely reach our doorsteps as well. And at that time guess where the most americans are going to be – in america, watching movies n eating popcorn!
My message to the people of Pakistan – enjoy the ride guys – cause thats what Americ is taking you for!
5 Paul Seery // Mar 31, 2008 at 9:11 am
I watched a show: two boys, one a Jew, the other Muslim. One boy burped in the face of other. The other boy returned the favor.This continued for minutes.
There were 32000 hostage incidents in Nepal in 2006 any guesses who the perpetrators were?
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