MONITOR Civil-Military Relations in Pakistan March 2018 Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency PILDAT Monitor CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS IN PAKISTAN March 2018 In this Issue This monitor is meant to identify key developments during the month on Civil Military Relations in Pakistan with selected high-profile international developments included 1. Bajwa Doctrine' occasionally 2. Continuing Role of COAS in Foreign Affairs Bajwa Doctrine’ 3. Army's Public Relations and Development Activities On March 28, Director General ISPR, Major General Asif Ghafoor, said that the “Bajwa 4. 209th Corps Commanders' Doctrine” must be looked at from the lens of security. 1 Conference 5. Sale of GHQ land put on hold This clarification came on March 28, 2018, while the “Bajwa Doctrine” 2 had already become 6. 1671 troops deployed in Saudi the cause of much consternation and conjecture in the media since the middle of March. A r a b i a : D e f e n c e M i n i s t r y Protestors in Thailand demand DG ISPR confirmed that the Chief of Army Staff had indeed met and interacted with a army to stop supporting ruling number of journalists in the context of “current environment” in an off-the-record setting and Junta while most of them respected the norms of [off-the-record] media interaction, some journalists, including even those who were not actually part of the interaction, he said, chose to lump together the “entire interaction and made it part of the Bajwa Doctrine.” 3 While the “Bajwa Doctrine” as it was referred to by a number of journalists, included a vast variety of subjects, perhaps the most objectionable ideas attributed to it have been that of COAS Bajwa allegedly fashioning the following notions: i. “Guided democracy” based on three tenets: a democratic government, chosen by free and fair election, a governance set up where the elected have little or no impact, and protection of democracy, but not at the cost of national institutions.4 The most needed clarification, PILDAT believes, should have come on the attributed notion of 'guided democracy' as such a concept is not only a flagrant violation of rule of law and constitution, the notion is a contradiction in terms as there is no concept of a democratic system of government that should be guided by anything other than the Constitution and the will of the voters. The concept is dangerous especially in the context of Pakistan's unfortunate tryst with military rule and pre-eminence. ii. Criticism of devolution under the 18th amendment to the Constitution. COAS is reportedly attributed to have said that 'it is being seen to have caused an imbalance between the federation and the provinces. The provinces do not have the capacity to shoulder all the responsibilities that the amendment has transferred to the federating units. It is being seen as more dangerous than Sheikh Mujibur Rehman's six points because following its passage the federation has turned into confederation.' 5 It must be noted that while DG ISPR in his press conference said that Bajwa Doctrine does not include devolution, he commented that “there is nothing better than every province being responsible for its own matters, but they should also be capable of making those decisions.” It must be noted that the DG ISPR did not deny that conversation topics were not as reported by the media, but only said that conversations during the off-the-record meeting were lumped together as part of the Bajwa doctrine, which should be only seen from the lens of security. 1. Bajwa doctrine does not mention 18th Amendment or judiciary: DG ISPR, March 28, 2018: https://www.geo.tv/latest/188306-dg-ispr-addresses-press-conference Pakistan Institute of Legislative 2. The Bajwa Doctrine: from chauvinism to realism, THE NEWS, March 18, 2018, as accessed on April 05, Development And Transparency 2018, at https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/293885-the-bajwa-doctrine-from-chauvinism-to-realism 3. Bajwa doctrine does not mention 18th Amendment or judiciary: DG ISPR, March 28, 2018: https://www.geo.tv/latest/188306-dg-ispr-addresses-press-conference E-mail: [email protected] 4. The Bajwa doctrine, THE NEWS, March 18, 2018, as accessed on April 05, 2018, at Website: www.pildat.org https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/293709-the-bajwa-doctrine 5. Analysing the Bajwa Doctrine, M. Ziauddin, March 22, 2018. Daily Times: https://dailytimes.com.pk/217943/analysing-the-bajwa-doctrine/ 02 PILDAT Monitor CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS IN PAKISTAN March 2018 Continuing Role of COAS in Foreign Affairs i. Ms Margaret Anne Adamson, Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, visited the COAS at the GHQ on March 08, 2018, to discuss matters of mutual interest.6 ii. Imam-e-Kaaba, His Excellency, Dr. Saleh Bin Mohammad Ali Talib, met the COAS at the GHQ to discuss matters of mutual interest on March 12, 2018.7 Imam-e-Kaaba also met President Mamnoon Hussain on the same day.8 iii. The COAS met with Foreign Minister of Iran, Mr. Javad Zarif, on March 13, 2018, at the GHQ. The two discussed bilateral security engagements during the recent months and measures initiated by both sides to improve Pak-Iran border security.9 The Foreign Minister came to Pakistan on March 11, 2018 on a three-day visit, leading a high-level delegation including a large group of businessmen.10 The visiting dignitary also met with the civilian leadership, including Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Prime Minister Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi separately on March 12, 2018.11,12 iv. Mr. Yao Jing, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, visited the COAS at the GHQ to discuss matters of mutual interest on March 15, 2018.13 v. The COAS embarked on an official visit to the State of Brunei on March 26, 2018, where he met with the Sultan of Brunei, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah, to discuss matters including bilateral defence cooperation and military to military ties.14 Army's Public Relations and Development Activities i. Commander Southern Command Chief Guest at Makran Festival A three-day Makran Festival was organized in Turbat starting March 02, 2018, in connection with Baloch Cultural Day. Although who exactly organized the event is unclear, Commander Southern Command Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa, joined the event as the chief guest, and promoted Khushhal Balochistan Programme. He said that, 'development projects under the “Khushhal Balochistan Programme”15 are close to completion and are designed to cater to the people in the most efficient manner.'16 Commander Southern Command Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa at the Makran Festival on March 02, 2018 6. ISPR Press Release, Official Website, March 08, 2018, as accessed on April 05, 2018 at https://www.ispr.gov.pk/press-release-detail.php?id=4621 7. ISPR Press Release, Official Website, March 12, 2018, as accessed on April 05, 2018 at https://www.ispr.gov.pk/press-release-detail.php?id=4631 8. ISPR Press Release, Official Website, March 13, 2018, as accessed on April 05, 2018 at https://www.ispr.gov.pk/press-release-detail.php?id=4636 9. ISPR Press Release, Official Website, March 13, 2018, as accessed on April 05, 2018 at https://www.ispr.gov.pk/press-release-detail.php?id=4636 10. Iranian foreign minister to hold talks with civilian, military leaders, DAWN, March 12, 2018, as accessed on April 05, 2018, at https://www.dawn.com/news/1394731/iranian-foreign-minister-to-hold-talks-with-civilian-military-leaders 11. Prime Minister Office, Official Website, March 12, 2018, as accessed on April 05, 2018 at http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=2225 12. Iran will not let its soil be used against Pakistan: Iranian envoy, GEO NEWS, March 12, 2018, as accessed on April 05, 2018, at https://www.geo.tv/latest/185908- iranian-foreign-minister-arrives-in-pakistan-for-three-day-visit 13. ISPR Press Release, Official Website, March 15, 2018, as accessed on April 05, 2018 at https://www.ispr.gov.pk/press-release-detail.php?id=4640 14. ISPR Press Release, Official Website, March 26, 2018, as accessed on April 05, 2018 at https://www.ispr.gov.pk/press-release-detail.php?id=4655 15. ISPR Press Release, Official Website, November 23, 2017, as accessed on April 05, 2018 at https://www.ispr.gov.pk/press-release-detail.php?id=4404 16. ISPR Press Release, Official Website, March 02, 2018, as accessed on April 05, 2018 at https://www.ispr.gov.pk/press-release-detail.php?id=4606 03 PILDAT Monitor CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS IN PAKISTAN March 2018 ii. Visit of COAS to Balochistan Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, laid the foundation of a UAE and Swiss government supported desalination plant at Gwadar, on March 04, 2018. The desalination plant is being installed under the Khushhal Balochistan Programme, and will fulfil the local demand for clean water. On the occasion, the COAS said that ‘Balochistan's progress is Pakistan's progress. Pakistan Army will extend full support and assist the socio economic development of Balochistan. While highlighting the importance of on going projects as part of Khushhal Balochistan programme, COAS said that all measures in coordination with civil Government would be taken to Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, laying 17 bring peace and prosperity in Balochistan.' foundation for desalination plant in Gwadar, on March 04, 2018 Later, the COAS met with local elders of Turbat at Headquarters FC Balochistan (South), along with CM Balochistan Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, Commander Southern Command, Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa and IGFC Balochistan (South) Major General Tariq Aman.18 The COAS also attended the closing ceremony of Makran festival, where a large number of local were present.