By: Azhar Azam
The alliance is envisioned to fight terrorism in Muslim countries however some of the military, political, and strategic analysts and media-men, intentionally or unintentionally, uselessly dragged this noble cause into illusory sectarian alliance over Iranian concerns.
Tehran has also conveyed its concerns over General Raheel heading the counter-terrorism alliance despite Pakistan’s assurance that it will not affect Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations. The Express Tribune quoted “General Qamar told the Iranian envoy that his country should not be concerned over Pakistan’s decision to join the Saudi alliance”.
He assured the Iranian ambassador that “Pakistan ‘values its bilateral ties with Iran’ and joining the alliance would not damage the relationship.” “Pakistan had never objected to Tehran’s close ties with New Delhi and, therefore, Pakistan expected Iran to respect the decision over the Saudi alliance.”
Why It’s Important General Raheel Sharif to Head IMAFT?
Nearly 2.1-million Pakistanis are living in Saudi Arabia, making it largest destination country for Pakistan and along with UAE; the total count of Pakistani immigrants is over 3.4-million. Between 2011 and 2015, 1.6-million (49.9%) and 1.3-million (38.2%) Pakistanis went to Saudi Arabia and UAE for employment; according to Ministry of Overseas Pakistan and Human Resource Development.
Pakistan economy is highly dependent on workers’ remittances which are nearly 90% of the country’s total exports. Out of total foreign remittances of $19.7 billion in 2016, about 64% came from Saudi Arabia ($5.8bn), UAE (4.3bn), and other GCC countries (2.4bn); according to State Bank of Pakistan. In addition,
Pakistan can also provide human resource to meet Saudi Arabia’s Vision-2030 that could drastically boost its workers’ remittances to lower balance of payment; refining the vulnerable economy. Leading a 39-nation alliance could also provide Pakistan an opportunity to increase trade with a number of other Muslim countries.
In defense sector, by aiding and supporting Saudi Arabia in fight against terrorism, Pakistan can take many military and technological advantages. Saudi Arabia is currently the largest arms importer in the world superseding India including high-tech arms, ammunition, and surveillance equipment from the United States that has barred supply of certain weapons and aircrafts to Pakistan. Besides arms trade with Russian and China, Pakistan could indirectly have access, operation, and technology to the US-supplied military weapons and defense equipment.
Between 2009 to-date, the State Department has approved nearly $115 billion military-related sale to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA); most of which are still under in the pipeline, according to Security Assistance Monitor. The deals included “the full range of military equipment, from small arms and ammunition, to howitzers, to tanks, and other armed vehicles, to attack helicopters and combat aircrafts, to bombs and air-to-ground missiles, to missile defense systems, to combat ships.”
Some of the major defense deals between the two countries are, as announced by Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense (DoD):
- F-15SA Aircraft ($29.432 billion),
- AH-64D APACHE, UH-60M BLACKHAWK, AH-6i Light Attack, and MD-530F Light Turbine Helicopters ($25.6 billion),
- Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) Ships ($11.25 billion),
- Various Munitions and Support ($6.8 billion),
- C-130J-30 and KC-130J Aircraft ($6.7 billion),
- Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missiles and Support ($5.4 billion),
- Saudi Arabia National Guard Modernization Program ($4 billion)
- CH-47F Chinook Cargo Helicopters ($3.51bn),
- AH-64D APACHE Longbow Helicopters ($3.3billion),
- AH-64D APACHE Longbow Helicopters, Engines, and Night Vision Sensors ($2.223 billion),
- AWACS Modernization Program ($2 billion),
- MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters ($1.9 billion),
- Patriot Air Defense System with PAC-3 Enhancement ($1.75 billion),
- Combat Utility Lift Evacuation System (HERCULES) Armored Recovery Vehicles ($1.5 billion),
- Air-to-Ground Munitions ($1.29 billion),
- Mark V Patrol Boats ($1.2 billion),
- C-41 System Upgrades and Maintenance ($1.1 billion),
- Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked Wire-Guided 2A/2B Radio-Frequency (RF) Missiles ($900 million),
- Howitzers, Radars, Ammunition, and Related Support ($886 million),
- 74K Persistent Threat Detection System (PTDS) Aerostats ($525 million),
- UH-60M Black Hawk Utility Helicopters ($495 million)
Now General Raheel Sharif as head of Islamic alliance against terrorism would not only have access to this pricy and classy defense equipment but it could help Pakistan capability to improve on its arms technology. Saudi Arabia also incurs huge expenditure on account of military training that could also be provided by Pakistan military forces, accumulating much-needed foreign reserves. Saudi Arabia can also be big market for exports of Pakistan-made defense equipment such as JF-17 Thunder, Al-Khalid Tanks, Al-Zarrar Tank, Super Mushshak, and other arms and ammunition.
Not over yet, General Raheel heading IMAFT, Pakistan will also be strategically well-placed in changing global formations and expanding its role in global war on terror. It would well-place Pakistan in global arena with many high-resourced, economically strong, and globally influential countries on its side; such as Turkey, Malaysia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia , Nigeria, UAE, and Qatar, to name a few.
Most importantly, had Pakistan been disinclined to join this alliance, someone else would have assumed the role; causing rift in Pakistan’s relations with Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries. Recently when Pakistani political parties intensively criticized potential alliance with Saudi Arabia over Yemen conflict, Indian Prime Minister Modi immediately flown to Saudi Arabia to forge relations; in an effort to take up the opportunity.
Pakistan must not be a part of aggression on any Muslim country but it could have denied through sensible, diplomatic ways. But unfortunately, Pakistan’s political leaders lack the prudence to weigh up the foreign relations. Iran must also comprehend Pakistan’s inevitabilities as it could not avoid losing any ally in the region that could emasculate the one common cause, war on terror and must keep in faith on Pakistan too that it will not be a part of any offensive on Iran. At the same time, Iran must also avoid to interfere in Syria or support Houthis in Yemen that could aggravate the regional crisis viciously.
As a nation, Pakistanis must realize too the importance of its allies and must also learn to trust its armed forces, particularly General Raheel Sharif who has served so much for the country, and for the people of the country beyond his prerogative just to ensure peace and stability. And before indicting or suspecting his intent, the people of Pakistan must recall his and his family achievements.
Who You Are Criticizing?
Apparently a very calm and composed appearance, the General comes from a strong military background and maintains to carry the pride of two martyrs from his family in wars against arch rival, India; Major Raja Aziz Bhatti (Uncle) and Major Shabbir Sharif (Brother), conferred “Nishan-e-Haider”, highest military award of Pakistan armed forces for bravery.
During anti-government sit-ins in Islamabad-Pakistan, the General accepted the responsibility to assert his role at the request of the government but sharply extracted from mediation when the government tried to politicize his role.
Fumed over Army Public School (APS) Peshawar attack that killed 147-innocents including 134-children, he not only convinced Imran Khan to call-off the sit-ins but also facilitated all parties conference (APC) to formulate a broader national policy to jointly fight one common ogre, terrorism.
Building nationwide consensus to fight the menace of terrorism, he expanded the Operation Zarb-e-Azb to the northern areas with great success. His immense efforts, thorough professionalism, and aggressive approach to tuck terrorism soon earned heroic respect domestically and internationally.
General Raheel took bold and brave actions by launching operation in no-go areas of Pakistan including supervising Rangers operations in Karachi to clean-up the largest populated city and economic hub of Pakistan from terrorists, target killers, kidnapping for ransom, and criminals flourishing under political umbrellas.
In Balochistan, he propped up Frontier Corps (FC) and military forces to effectively restore peace in the province that was sabotaged by Indian-backed terrorists and cross-border infiltrators; shielding $41 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), largest-ever foreign investment in Pakistan expected to lift the economic conditions of the people in the province and the country.
A number of thinks tanks, intellectuals, and public opinion polls pushed him to take-over but he remained unflappable and preferred to cling to his professional flair. His selfless, dedicated, and object-oriented slant augmented his popularity to sky-high in the country; as indicated in a number of public polls conducted by various independent local and international well-reputed agencies.
Besides fighting terrorism, General Raheel made the world realize the contributions and sacrifices given by armed forces, law-enforcement agencies, and the people of Pakistan. As a result, international community commended Pakistan’s efforts to subvert the terrorism and restoring peace in the region.
He has always spent the moments of feasts, festivities, and special occasions with the troops fighting on the front-lines to cheer them up. Also, he continued to engage civil society, up-grading the capacities and improving the capabilities of civil armed forces to effectively fight terrorism.
At the same time, he kept visiting various countries such as China, United States, Russia, United Kingdom, Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Sir Lanka and many others to share thoughts, causes, and challenges in the war of terror. One he was found in China, United States, or Afghanistan and the other day he was dining with troops in conflict areas.
During his tenure, he slotted a very assertive role in deepening and strengthening the Pak-Sino relations by expanding strategic, military, and economic cooperation. He visited Russia, a cold-war foe, to melt iced relations between the two countries and hosted historic military exercise “Friendship 2016” with Russia.
After United States’ hitches to providing Pakistan the weapons, General Raheel lessened Pakistan’s military dependence on United States and curved to China and Russia to meet Pakistan defense needs. His visit to Kremlin and meeting with President Putin was reported by world media as a major break-through in Pak-Russo relations as both the countries agreed to share intelligence, defense and economic cooperation.
At the time, Iran-Saudi relations dampened to worst in history over Yemen conflict, again General Raheel frequently visited both the countries and played an arbitrary role to ease down the tension and ensure peace in the region. He was invited by the Kingdom at the concluding ceremony of Thunder of the North or North Thunder, the largest military drills in the history.
Despite rift in Pak-US relations, the General made significant efforts to repair the liaison with the United States to mollify the trust deficit. US commanders in Afghanistan, CIA chiefs, and US political administration have repeatedly admired his exertions in fighting terrorism. He also took plucky initiative to onset dialogue between Afghanistan government and Afghan Taliban; unfortunately marred by India.
It was none other than General Raheel Sharif who clogged Indian adventure dreams and silenced its clattering tone. Screaming of Pakistan-backed intruders in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IOK) and India, he laudably hushed without retreating from Pakistan stance on IOK. Under his leadership, Pakistan exposed and embarrassed India on the international front by capturing Kulbhushan Yadav, a serving Indian officer and R&AW head for Pakistan.
He is the only COAS in the history of Pakistan who refuted the concept of “holy cow” in armed forces. Taking a valiant move, he sacked at least 6-top ranked military officers over corruption charges including two-star (Major General) and three-star serving (lieutenant General) Generals as part of the “army’s aggressive pursuit of an anti-corruption drive”. The officers fired were also denied the post-retirement perks and privileges besides ordering to return the illicit money.
General Raheel Sharif is also the only chief who has donated his plots (both residential and commercial) worth 80-million rupees (app. US$760,000) to the Shuhda (Martyrs) Fund that is incorporated for the families of the soldiers martyred in wars and operations against terrorism. He also facilitated Imran Khan, Chairman PTI, to 18-acres of land in DHA-Karachi for establishment of Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital.