Is Mulla Military Nexus Really Coming To An End?

After the ISPR`s aggressive reaction to the Munawwar Hassan`s statement, some political analysts and anchorperson are speculating that, perhaps, the decades` prevailing “Mulla Military Nexus” is coming to an end. In the support, they are referring to the recent exchange of statements between JI and ISPR. 

However, the policy statement by the Federal Interior Minister Ch. Nisar in the National Assembly indirectly denied all this.

It is very clear that Munawwar Hassan not only called Hakeem Ullah Mehsud a martyr (Shaheed), but he also questioned the religious status of the Martyrs of the Pakistani soldiers. These were two motivating factors that provoked the Pakistan Army to express its anger. The ISPR said that the Pakistani people were aware who were the state`s enemies. It further asked the JI`s head to tender apology over hurting the feelings of the martyrs` families.

On the extremely controversial statement of Munawwar Hassan, such a reaction needed to be shown especially from the federal government. However, instead of endorsing the Army`s stance, Ch. Nisar, in his policy speech said, “It is dangerous to have a discussion on who is martyr or not.” The question is, is condemning the extremely misleading and disgusting statement about our martyrs, a useless discussion? Did the Pakistani military troops not fight for the state and its people who are being ruled by the present government? Although Ch. Nisar did appreciated the sacrifices of the soldiers, but there was no word on JI`s stance. Rather, he kept on repeating that the US drone attack on Hakeem Uallah Mehsud damaged the peace process and the negotiations process could not be successful unless the drone attacks stopped.

From the policy statement, it looked as if the government was performing the role of a third party conciliator between JI and Army, not as an aggrieved party like the Pakistan army on the matter of highly national concern. In fact, it was quite apparent that the PML-N`s Federal Government did not totally agree to the officially issued press release on the matter. Though the Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif visited the GHQ in order to pay a tribute to the martyrs of the country, however he too did not speak up against the JI`s treasonous views. Surprisingly, it was JI`s chief Munawwar Hassan who created a  serious controversy due to which the Prime Minister himself had to make a special visit to the GHQ to pacify the Army, but there was no word against the culprits.

Similarly, despite requiring Jamate-e-Islami to clarify its position by the Pakistan Army, JI did not deviate from its stance. Rather, it criticized the ISPR`s press release arguing the Army had no right to intervene in the Politics. This indicates that Jamat-e-Islami still has some sort of backing in the powerful elements of the establishment. Why does the government not appear to be on the same page with Pakistan Army on the matter? Does it still have a soft corner for Taliban like JI, JUI-F and PTI?

In this respect, the statement of PML-N's Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Defence Production, is very important. During an exclusive interview with the BBC, he said that the government would wait for the conductive environment of talks with Taliban that may take even a few months. He further said, “Taliban are still angry on the death of their chief Hakimullah Mehsud. Until that gets pacified, negotiations are not possible.”

The question is, why is the government so hopeful for the success of talks with TTP? Why is it so easily ready to wait for even a couple of months to have a better environment negotiation? What are they foreseeing that is not visible to the other people, and secondly, on what kind of base, JI is sanding by its stance against Army______the most powerful element of the country??

Here, it is important to bear in mind that the Chief of Army Staff General Kiyani has already announced his retirement and would leave his post very soon, while the PML-N government would be appointing the new COAS by the end of November. It is also very obvious that Gen. Kiyani is one of those Army Generals who do not have any soft corner for TTP. The ISPR`s recent press release was also representing the same. However, both the Pakistani as well as the international media has been talking about the presence of the generals in Pakistan army who oppose any military operations against Taliban. What I feel is PML-N government would be appointing a General as the new COAS who have the same mind set.

So, if there is such an appointment, there would possibly be no anti-Taliban factor in the power after General Kiyani, and there looks to be a complete takeover of the Taliban supporting elements over Pakistan. As a result, PML-N, PTI, JUI-F and JI may try to legalize TTP in the country by allowing a general immunity after successful negotiations with it. Moreover, Jamat-e-Islami`s chief Munawwar Hasan would easily come into a position to defend his stance. On the other hand, it would be a big disappointment for the people who are against Taliban, and they can be at the hit list of the TTP then. This sort of scenario will surely strengthen the long existing Mulla Military Nexus in the country.

If such a situation really comes true, there will be a civil war like situation in the country between the Taliban supporting and opposing people that would be injurious to the already weakening unity in the nation. But, will all that really take place? Will Pakistan face more severe divisions in the days to come? The time will answer these questions. May God save the nation from worse situation!