NDU holds roundtable on ‘civil-military relations’

Islamabad
Autocratic party culture in politics combined with irresponsible political statements against military have played adverse role in civil-military relationship.
The analysis came up in a roundtable discussion on ‘Contemporary civil-military relations in Pakistan,’ organised by Department of International Relations, National Defence University (NDU) in collaboration with Hans Seidel Foundation. The roundtable, first in the series of six roundtables on the issues of ‘Security and Governance in Pakistan,’ was attended by academicians and policy experts who presented their intellectual perspectives on different aspects of the civil-military relationship in Pakistan.
The speakers said that sharing of responsibilities between civil and military leadership would lead to successful management of power in national polity. They said that military come in to fill the gap when parliament and judiciary fails to deliver. They said that there has always been a fragile balance between civil and military relations in Pakistan.
The roundtable was chaired by Principal NUST Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (NIPCONS) Major General (r) Dr. Shahid Ahmed Hashmat and key speakers included DG Institute of Strategic Studies, Research and Analysis (ISSRA) Major General Noel Israel Khokhar, and President Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) Ahmed Bilal Mehboob.
The floor for discussion was opened with welcome remarks by Head of the Department of International Relations, NDU, Dr. Muhammad Khan which was followed by the remarks from Farzana Ayesha from Hans Seidel Foundation.
In his talk, Dr Muhammad Khan presented arguments in the favour of sharing of responsibility between civil and military leadership for successful management of power. He referred to the theories of democratic civil-military relations.
Dr Khan supported merger of some responsibilities of military and civilian leadership but cautioned against fusion of control. He said that as there is divided opinion among Pakistani leadership circles about role of military in politics, it is omnipotent to discuss the matter.
Maj. Gen. Neol Khokhar dilated upon general perceptions regarding military. He said that good governance is responsibility of the civilian institutions. He mentioned different models of democracy and emphasised the service and delivery model for Pakistan.
Responding to one question he said that military officers risk their lives and can even get maimed for protecting their homeland, so the nature of military service is not comparable to the nature of civil service where mainly desk work is involved.
In his concluding remarks he reasserted importance of civilian institutions, parliament and judiciary to improve democratic process in Pakistan. He also said that democracy is a way of life and not a process.
President PILDAT Ahmed Bilal Mehboob educated audience with his rich insight on institutionalisation of democracy and role of military in politics. Mehboob maintained a realistic approach and highlighted significance of established institutes like judiciary and legislature. He mentioned that both civil and military leadership have history of a bitter past towards each other. He said that as a nation, we need maturity, patience and vision.
Gen. Neol Khokhar also added that military businesses are to support poor military families and accommodate retired soldiers who retire too young. He drew attention to the aspect that these military business and welfare organisations also provide handsome jobs for civilians. He said that all these businesses pay maximum taxes among other business organisations of Pakistan and follow rules of the land.
Dr. Gen. (r) S. Hasmat said that while taking into account the perception of civil leadership and society about military, it is also important to consider perception of military about the society and political leadership. Strength of military is that of the government. Neither government nor military can be strong in isolation from each other.
It was concluded that authority comes with responsibility and also accountability. The process of good governance and democratisation in Pakistan would be strengthened if local governments’ system is re-established and strengthened.