The Pakistan Army Officer Corps, Islam and Strategic Culture 1947-2007
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The Pakistan Army Officer Corps, Islam and Strategic Culture 1947-2007 Mark Fraser Briskey A thesis in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy UNSW School of Humanities and Social Sciences 04 July 2014 COPYRIGHT STATEMENT 'I hereby grant the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all proprietary rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstract International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). 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I /b ;l~pq ;i..ef}((/_, Date THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES PLEASE TYPE Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Surname or Family name: Briskey First name: Mark Other name/s: Fraser Abbreviation for degree as given in the University calendar: PhD School: Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty: Title: The Pakistan Army Officer Corps, Islam and Strategic Culture 1947-2007 Abstract 350 words maximum: (PLEASE TYPE) This thesis examines the use and mmipulation of Islam as a fu1m of identity and important elemmt of the strategic culture of the Pakistan Army Officer Corps between 1947 and 2007. Despite the ethnic and cultural d:isparifus within the population that made up the new nation of Pakistan the Army has continued to rely on a rump of Punjabi and Pakhtun Officers who have relied on Army interpretations of Islam fur identity. The thesis al'>o argues that the Army from its outset has consistently conflated notions of the discredited'Mmtial Race' theory and Islam as the basis of the Army's superiority in comparison to other armies - Imst notably the Indian Army. Apart from the relationship between 'Mmiial Race' and Islam the thesis al'>o draws links between Islam and a number of other significant influences on the A1my. An important method of understanding the role of Islam in the Officer Corps is argued as usefully being understood through the prism of 'strategic culture' themy. Strategic culture theory highlights the relevance 'of an organisation's history. In particular the theory argues the importance of major 'strategic' shocks and disasters upon an organisation.. In this way the thesis argues that the tribulations of pmiition and the first Kashmir War of 1947-48, the 1965 War and above all the 'strategic shock' suffered in the Army's humiliating defuat to India in 1971 were influential in shaping an Army culture in which Islam was prominent. The thesis concludes that in a titre period when Western or other Asian powers may consider it anachronistic to call upon a religion and an uncompromising belief in a deity to provide an advantage in combat, there are Officers in the Pakistan Army in the last decade of the twentieth centUiy and in the first decade of the new centUIY who hold these belie£; as innate truths and an essential element of their Army culture. Declaration relating to disposition of project thesis/dissertation I hereby grant to the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or in part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all property rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Mi films to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstracts International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). ............... ...P.~.d>?4-~~-g{) ...... .. ........... 14. .."/(·/t:: ... ~ .... Witness Date ses that there may be exceptional circumstances requiring restrictions on copying or conditions on use. Requests for restriction for a peri of up to 2 years must be made in writing. Requests for a longer period of restriction may be considered in exceptional circumstances and re uire the a roval of the Dean of Graduate Research. FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Date of completion of requirements for Award: THIS SHEET IS TO BE GLUED TO THE INSIDE FRONT COVER OF THE THESIS ii Abstract This thesis examines the use and manipulation of Islam as a form of identity and important element of the strategic culture of the Pakistan Army Officer Corps between 1947 and 2007. Despite the ethnic and cultural disparities within the population that made up the new nation of Pakistan the Army has continued to rely on a rump of Punjabi and Pakhtun Officers who have relied on Army interpretations of Islam for identity. The thesis also argues that the Army from its outset has consistently conflated notions of the discredited‘Martial Race’ theory and Islam as the basis of the Army’s superiority in comparison to other armies - most notably the Indian Army. Apart from the relationship between ‘Martial Race’ and Islam the thesis also draws links between Islam and a number of other significant influences on the Army. An important method of understanding the role of Islam in the Officer Corps is argued as usefully being understood through the prism of ‘strategic culture’ theory. Strategic culture theory highlights the relevance of an organisation’s history. In particular the theory argues the importance of major ‘strategic’ shocks and disasters upon an organisation.. In this way the thesis argues that the tribulations of partition and the first Kashmir War of 1947–48, the 1965 War and above all the ‘strategic shock’ suffered in the Army’s humiliating defeat to India in 1971 were influential in shaping an Army culture in which Islam was prominent. The thesis concludes that in a time period when Western or other Asian powers may consider it anachronistic to call upon a religion and an uncompromising belief in a deity to provide an advantage in combat, there are Officers in the Pakistan Army in the last decade of the twentieth century and in the first decade of the new century who hold these beliefs as innate truths and an essential element of their Army culture. iii Acknowledgements In undertaking this dissertation I was very fortunate in receiving the help and generous assistance of many persons over a number of years. Firstly my great thanks to Eleanor Hancock and Jeff Grey for their advice, encouragement and patience over the course of the entire dissertation, and Craig Stockings for his motivation towards the end of the project. I am also extremely grateful for the funding of my travel to undertake research for this project on two occasions by the University of New South Wales. I would also like to thank the examiners of this dissertation for their comments which have made it all that more insightful. Additionally I want to thank Bernadette McDermot, Rita Parker, Mark O’Neill and Emily Robertson for their discussions and encouragement that helped this project along. Many other people generously gave of their time, knowledge, advice and guidance on various matters over the years. Thanks to the Burma Star Association in the United Kingdom, Robert Lyman, Tom Bruin, John Randle, Patric Emerson, Tarak Barkawi, Brian Cloughley and his wife Margaret for graciously hosting me at their lovely home in France to avail myself of Brian’s encyclopedic knowledge of the Pakistan Army. My thanks are also due to John Chiles, Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema, Kaushik Roy, members of the Pakistan-Australia Forum, the Pakistan High Commission Canberra and those officers of the Pakistan Army in Pakistan such as Brigadier Talat Munir who inspired me to undertake this project and unstintingly gave of their time in steering me onto previously unknown troves of primary sources and responding graciously to my queries on matters new and old. Finally, but not at all least, special acknowledgment to my wife Helen, children Flyn and Hannah for their love, enduring patience and kind understanding as I pursued this project over a long period of time in Australia and overseas.