In the line of fire

At the iftar/dinner hosted for the media at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad on Wednesday October 11, Durrani's courtier-like introduction of the president was positively embarrassing. He went overboard with his unadulterated flattery. A hard-bitten Pakistani media does not take kindly to such public displays of fawning and servility. This clouds the Pervez Musharraf image of a blunt, no-nonsense soldier who speaks his mind and is not given to such public displays of adulation.

Pervez Musharraf is in his element when he speaks what is in his heart without affectation. His main theme was the deep concern about polarization between moderates and extremists in Islam, with international perception recognizing extremists (who are a minority) as the true representatives of Islam rather than the overwhelming silent majority of moderates. He made an impassioned appeal for all sections of society to support his efforts to shun extremism.

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After al-Qaeda was bombed out of Afghanistan some terrorists came across (literally) into greener pastures in Pakistan. The international public perception is that Pakistan has become the epicenter for terrorism. The country's front-line role in the "war against terrorism" is discounted, despite the grievous sacrifices Pakistan has made during the last 5 years. Then again, Pakistan is accused of nuclear proliferation, money-laundering, violation of women's rights, etc. Pervez Musharraf has a harrowing job defending Pakistan's position in public, and repeating it on a day after day basis to visiting dignitaries can be quite frustrating.

The agreement with the tribals in FATA is certainly a matter of satisfaction, it will bring interim peace to the region. The long-term solution is to go down the economic route, but that seems to be half-heartedly on the agenda. The "Reconstruction Opportunity Zones" (ROZs) proposal is good but not good enough. The whole of FATA should be designated as a Free Trade Zone (FTZ), maybe even by giving them off-shore status like Mauritius, Jersey Islands, Bahamas, etc.

About Balochistan, and economic initiatives thereof, the president enumerated the efforts being taken to remove the development disparity with the other provinces. More has been done by the present regime for emancipation of the Baloch masses than those before it. The president was firm in stating that he would not allow anyone to take the law into their hands. The recalcitrant tribal Sardars who are a law into themselves were put on notice. The fundamental responsibility of the government is to enforce the laws of the land. This includes bringing to heel those who think it is their inherent right to go around killing people, blowing up pipelines, transmission towers, bridges and planting landmines, etc. Balochi qualms can be overcome if pragmatic economic initiatives to go hand-in-hand with genuine provincial autonomy.

Given that Pervez Musharraf has an undeniable right to present his own point of view, nevertheless one had profound reservations about his launching In the Line of Fire at this time, because it has put the state, the institutions of the state, and himself at risk of collateral damage. The logic he puts forward is, however, convincing.

It is true the world takes him to be upright and credible, in contrast Pakistan is perceived as being "ground zero" for a myriad number of the world's major problems. The presentation of Pakistan's viewpoint through his personal autobiography would give credibility to much of the facts that the world had misperceptions and doubts about. In effect, he has taken a calculated risk in gambling with his person and place in history.

While his version of the AQ Khan episode may be the subject of criticism locally, in international circles it vindicates Pakistan's position that nuclear proliferation was the act of one man rather than being state sanctioned. It absolves Pakistan's image as an out of control "rogue nation," a necessary statement of fact. We have to live in a real world where heads of state and/or heads of government are involved in pragmatic political and administrative compromises, not exactly "kosher," or for that matter popular, but necessary in the exigencies of the country's interest.

I must respectfully disagree with Gen Pervez Musharraf concerning his disparaging and unnecessary comments about Lt Gen (Retd) Ali Kuli Khan Khattak. In the ultimate success on being appointed COAS over Ali Kuli and Khalid Nawaz, Pervez Musharraf should have been magnanimous. In the 48 years that I have known Gen Ali Kuli, I have never seen him doing or saying anything wrong, either professionally or in his personal capacity. Ali Kuli was an excellent professional soldier, and he remains in civilian life as an upright, honest, correct and exemplary human being.

The 29th Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Long Course was perhaps the finest intake from the 25th to 36th PMA (the last of the Long Courses pre-1965), truly amazing. Ali, Khalid Nawaz and Pervez Musharraf were among the top six cadets from the 29th nominated for Sandhurst.

As "Top Guns" of the course (including outrageously brave Shabbir Sharif Shaheed, Nishan-e-Haider), Ali Kuli, Khalid Nawaz, and Pervez Musharraf rose together to the rank of Lt Gen and can rightly claim to be the best of the best, the crème de la crème. Ali Kuli went off to Sandhurst and Shabbir Sharif got the coveted Sword of Honour, Khalid Nawaz graduated as Company Senior Under Officer (SUO) and Musharraf as Battalion JUO. Musharraf would have graduated at least 6 rungs higher except for an unfortunate incident.

I have personally heard Ali Kuli speak up in Pervez Musharraf's defence as recently as November 2005 in New Delhi at the World Economic Forum's India Economic Summit, when he was asked a leading (and deliberately mischievous) question about Musharraf's being appointed as COAS over his head. As examples for younger officers to emulate, it does not befit the two, who remained good friends till October 12, 1999, to be taking potshots at each other.

Ali Kuli and Khalid Nawaz (a "Gallian" to add to his credentials) opted for retirement in the best traditions of the service when Musharraf, nominally their junior, became COAS. Loving and respecting Ali Kuli as my older brother, I also admire what Musharraf has been doing for Pakistan as president. Like both of them a Sandhurst candidate, I humbly request them to cool it in the best interests of the army and the country.

Pervez Musharraf has been a good leader during a period of great crisis for Pakistan. One accepts his logic that he deliberately put his credibility, and a place in history, in the line of fire in explaining Pakistan's side to a world audience to contain our increasingly eroding credibility as a sovereign nation, but it could still go horribly wrong. One admires his courage in doing so, but only time will tell whether his calculated risk will pay.

Ikram Sehgal, a former Major of Pakistan Army, is a political analyst and columnist.