Politicians have no heart for sacrifices of troops: ex-servicemen

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Association (PESA) on Friday regretted the reaction of some of the politicians to corps commanders’ concern over the slow implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP).
Some politicians are terming the concern expressed by the army as an interference in political affairs, which is contrary to the facts as it is a matter of national survival, it said.
It seems that the politicians have no concern for the lives being sacrificed by troops, hardships being faced by the displaced persons and exorbitant financial cost of the ongoing military operation, said PESA President Lt Gen (retd) Ali Kuli Khan.
Speaking to the members and Executive Council meeting, he said that the PESA had already been pointing that if follow-up action was not taken by civilian agencies, all sacrifices and efforts under the Operation Zarb-e-Azb could go waste.
Gen Ali Kuli Khan said that if our government thinks that the army commanders’ concern was not justified, then it must take the nation into confidence by issuing a white paper describing the progress on each of the 20 points of the much-trumpeted NAP instead of reacting in a negative manner by criticising the army for speaking the truth.
During the meeting, the PESA members agreed with the government’s point of view that the implementation of NAP was a shared responsibility of all the national institutions, while remaining within the ambit of the Constitution.
However, they said the government needs to explain about the share of the plan implemented by other civilian institutions. This is considered absolutely necessary as no wars can be won by military alone.
The former servicemen observed that all those criticising the mild concern would be well advised to consider the recent performance of the armed forces and their approval with the common man.
No one should align himself with those forces which have misused their influence and looted Pakistan’s wealth and future.
Vice Admiral Ahmad Tasnim, Brig Mian Mahmud, Lt Gen Naeem Akbar, Brig Arbi Khan, Brig Simon Sharaf, Major Farouk Hamid Khan, Major Muhammad Akram and Brig Masudul Hassan were also present in the meeting.