Pakistan - An Army in Ruin

[Truth Seeker]

Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf highlighted the importance of the Pakistan army by stating that the "defence of the motherland is the foremost responsibility of the armed forces". Having said this one would also assume that the President would support the army with the relevant resources to enable this to be a reality. However recent actions have far from achieved this but rather have weakened the army, these include:

 

Reduction of the overall army by 50,000 soldiers, this is a nine-percent reduction and the first one ever undertaken in the history of Pakistan. These cuts will take place in vital aspects of the army such as logistics, which are imperative for a modern day army to be effective.

 

Officials have been quoted as stating that "the projections for the defence budget in the forthcoming federal budget would not introduce an increase in real terms". Further more we know that the key proponents of reducing army expenditure are the World Bank, this highlights how once again policy decisions are made by the Western institutions.

 

The insistence of America to provide troops for the Iraqi occupation will further weaken defences and will also reduce the morale of the army that is already suffering from the recent Waziristan operations where many personnel were killed. Clearly the army sees this as a clear contradiction in its role as it seen as a vanguard of Muslim interests not the Western colonialist nations and they’re anti Muslim agenda.

 

The sacking of Abdul Qadeer Khan the Chief Nuclear scientist has created a Vacuum in terms of experience and knowledge in this vital Nuclear deterrent and defence field and is in agreement with American objectives of removing the nuclear strength of Pakistan.

 

The constant removal and redeployment of Army command has weakened the leadership ability of the army, this has been done with the objective of securing the position of President Musharraf to any possible threat to his authority regardless of the negative consequences it has had on the military structure.

 

In contrast we see that the Indian military also making clear the importance of its army with the Indian Finance Minister stating that modernising the Indian armed forces and equipping them with latest equipment was non-negotiable and "any additional requirement that may emerge on account of modernisation needs of the three defence services will be fully met."

 

These are not like the empty slogans given by President Musharraf but are supported with the necessary resources and policy decisions, which are clearly seen with the Indian budget for FY 2003-2004 of Rs.653 billion being earmarked for expenditure on defence. It represents an increase of 16.6% over the last year’s budget estimates of Rs.560 billion.

 

In terms of long term trends, the Indian defence spending jumped from $7.53 billion in 1991 to $12.87 billion in 2001. During the same period Pakistan's allocation for defence showed a negligible increase from $3.07 billion to $3.15 billion.

 

While India has been sharply increasing its defence expenditure, Pakistan's defence budget during the last three years has remained almost static with considerable decrease in real terms, highlighting the failure of this and previous governments of providing the Military with the resources it requires.

 

Its clear that Pakistan is becoming an insignificant nation in the eyes of its enemies with India continuing to increase its strength and we also see the rise of the enemy in Afghanistan, Its clear that the army has a clear role but a role that President Musharraf is failing to support with the necessary resources and policy decisions.

 

The only hope for the Muslims is a sincere leadership that is not run as a satellite state of the American government. It is only a sincere leadership that has the will to strengthen the army to safeguard and bring dignity to this Ummah.

[Liqaye]

Brother the situation between pakistan and india is one of MAD [MUTUAL ASSURED DESTRUCTION] all pakistan needs is the bomb the rest are just details.