General Raheel Sharif (Field Marshal); Definitely; May Be ! By Abdul Salam Dadabhoy

Introduction: Field marshal is the most senior military rank, senior to the General Officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army, and when it is, very rarely, if at all, any General is appointed to it. It is considered, as a five star rank, in modern day armed forces in many countries. Promotion to the rank of Field Marshal usually requires extraordinary military achievement, by a General, especially and specifically a wartime victory.

In Pakistan, apart from the immense public demand, there is increasing talk in the political, social and business circles, that Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif must be promoted, to the rank of Field Marshal. The Army Chief is due to retire, on 30 November in 2016, after completing three years in office. In January of this year, General Raheel Sharif, in order to put to rest, growing speculations about an extension, in his tenure, via a brief, but sudden statement, through the ISPR announced, that he will not seek an extension in his tenure. General Raheel Sharif turned 60 years of age on 16 June 2016.

Military Win: The majority of Pakistanis see the role of General Raheel Sharif, who is regarded as one of the most powerful and popular man in Pakistan, as vital in the country’s on - going war against terrorism. The success of the on - going Operation Zarb – e - Azb and the improved security situations in the city of Karachi and the province of Baluchistan, which had become the hot beds of crime and most volatile centers of the country, are also attributed to the efforts of General Raheel Sharif. After sacrificing billions of dollars and thousands of lives, in the on - going war against terrorism, the Pakistani nation for the first time in years sees hope, that this menace of terrorism will be eliminated, once and for all, due to the efforts and strong resolve of the Army Chief. General Raheel Sharif’s emergence, as a decisive factor in Pakistan, gives further credibility to the public’s demand of promoting him, to the rank of Field Marshal.

Background: President of Pakistan, Field Marshal General Muhammad Ayub Khan till to date, remains the only Field Marshal, in the history of Pakistan and its’ Army. It is generally agreed, that Ayub Khan was a self appointed Field Marshal. If the intense and ever increasing public demand, of promoting General Raheel Sharif, to the rank of Field Marshal is met, General Raheel Sharif will become the country’s first Field Marshal, appointed by the government, very much unlike to Field Marshal Ayub Khan. Speaking of Asia, in Sri Lanka, General Fonseka became the first Field Marshal of the country. Fonseka was promoted to the position of Field Marshal, in 2015, in recognition of his extraordinary services and contribution to Sri Lanka’s war victory, as the Army commander, over the Liberation Tamil Tigers.

Diplomatic Overtures: Another important reason to justify elevation of General Raheel Sharif, as Field Mashal, is because he is also regarded as a game changer, with his diplomatic approaches. This change was evident, in the cases of Russia and Afghanistan, as soon as General Raheel Sharif took office, as Chief of the Army Staff. It is also argued, that General Raheel Sharif’s contribution in reforming game changer approaches, with China, the United States, Russia and Afghanistan, are enough reasons to see him, as the next Field Marshal in Pakistan, after a gap of almost fifty years, when the then General Ayub Khan was decorated as Field Marshal in 1965.

Writ Of State: In addition to operational successes and victories, in North and South Waziristan, Baluchistan and Karachi, the COAS has adopted a clear cut policy, in advising and has sent a stern message, to several state institutions, like NAB, NADRA and PEMRA etc, to perform their duties diligently and with devotion and to demonstrate loyalty, to the State and not to the Government. It would be travesty of justice, if not mentioned, that in every crisis in the last 3 years, the government was nowhere to be seen and the COAS had to step in / step up and take charge of the situation.

Surrounding Threats: Due to CPEC and otherwise, Pakistan is surrounded and faced by open enemies, who are going to any lengths, to sabotage and to discourage and dissuade China and Pakistan, to shelf the CPEC. Ever since CPEC has been announced publicly, there have been border attacks and skirmishes, from all sides, the most recent being from Afghanistan, at the Torkham border.

CPEC: This being one of the biggest ventures undertaken in the history of Pakistan, one is sure, that the Chinese would have taken certain solemn personal assurances and undertakings from the COAS, regarding not to consider changing horses in mid streams, till the entire projects of CPEC are up and running.

Punch Line: Thank you General Raheel Sharif for Zarb e Azb and for restoring peace in Karachi; 2) For re-kindling lost hope in the hearts and minds of the people; 3) For reminding the world what territorial integrity and sovereignty means; 4) For taking a stand against the Afghans and for the Torkham border gate; 5) For establishing writ of the state when the government failed; 6) For raising issues and concerns of Pakistan before the international community; 7) For personally supervising the CPEC and for not allowing it to become controversial; 8) For cutting India to size and for keeping India in its shoes; and 9) For all that you have done and continue to do for Pakistan and its people.

Allah o Akbar – Pakistan Zindabad – Advance Eid Mubarak !!

About the author::
Abdul Salam Dadbhoy is a Director of the Dadabhoy Group, he is an ardent writer / blogger and has served as Vice Chairman of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry.

 

by webmaster@insaf.pk (tkiadmin)