The Pakistan Army - An Evaluation

One of the major contributions of the British to the countries of India and Pakistan was a first class army. This army had distinguished itself in the two world wars as well as battles against the Afghans and the tribes of the frontier. This was known as the Indian army during the days of the Raj.

In 1947 when the British left India, the Army was divided into the armies of India and Pakistan. Thus the basic ingredient of the Pakistan Army was the ethos of the culture brought by the English. Unfortunately while India retained and even developed the British ethos, Pakistan followed a diametrically opposite path. The result was that the professionalism of the Pakistan Army was given a go by.

Right from 1947 down to the present time the Army has been suffering only defeats. This is a direct corollary of the lack of a professional fighting spirit in the Pakistan Army. To make matters worse right from 1957 when General Ayub Khan seized power in a military coup, the Army is enmeshed in the politics of the nation. Thus a string of Generals as Presidents and Governors have appeared. All these do not add up to a professional atmosphere in the Army where top Generals are eyeing plum civil appointments.

The Bangladesh war is a case in point, when 93, 000 soldiers surrendered without much resistance. Learned soldiers are of the opinion that the Pakistan Army could have held out much longer, but it did not happen. Again the 1965 war with India and the Kargil episode again showed the Army in poor light. Despite advantage of terrain and equipment the armed forces abjectly failed in all their objectives.

The situation is now very volatile as the Pakistan Army brought up on a diet of India as the main enemy is confronted by Islamic jihad groups. These groups could sound the death knell of Pakistan. The Army thus has a monster in it's rear. Given the fact that the Army is not the Professional force that it is supposed to be, fighting the jihad groups will not be easy. Another lurking danger is the fact that the Army is rife with elements of Islamic fundamentalism. For this the blame must lie with General Zia who gave the green signal to Islamise the Army. Thus one of the fundamental principles of the British of a secular force was thrown to the winds.

The future is indeed bleak. The Pakistan Army will have to inculcate professionalism at all levels, otherwise the defeats of the last 60 years may come back to haunt them again in the guise of the Taliban and Jihad groups.