General Kayani’s dream The army definitely seems to be embarked on a charm offensive these days. First the DG ISPR engaged journalists to convey the message that the army had no interest in a delay in the elections. Now COAS General Kayani has also followed suit. The COAS told journalists the other day that a fair and free election was his dream, and that dream was about to be realised soon. General Kayani emphasised that since he had taken over as COAS in 2007, he had done his best to prevent interference in the electoral process (an affliction that has wrought much damage in the past). He said he had supported the democratic process according to the letter and spirit of the constitution ever since, including the 2008 elections and the government that has been in power as a result for the last five years. General Kayani strongly advocated a peaceful transition of power. He refuted the rumour mongering and suspicions being aired in some parts of the media that the army was either seeking a postponement of the elections or a long-term technocratic setup. The General underlined that his intentions should not be judged by his statements but by his actions and the ground realities (whether this implies that General Kayani feels there is some contradiction between his statements and actions, or that his statements are often misinterpreted, is not known). General Kayani wants simultaneous elections throughout the country, including Balochistan. His mission in 2008 was non-interference in the elections, and that remains his mission today, when the country is poised to go to the polls. The COAS says he has assured the Chief Election Commissioner of the complete help and cooperation of the army. As to the choice of the elected representatives, General Kayani said whether these representatives were competent or not, this was the privilege of the people and their choice would be accepted with an open heart. It was the constitutional duty of the army to be with the government, no matter who leads it, the COAS stated. He went on to refute all the speculations in the media that the army was supporting any particular party or wanted an indefinite technocratic caretaker government. The army, he said, wants democracy to flourish and was not supporting anyone from behind the scenes. These two interactions at the highest level with journalists in recent days have at least brought the good news that the army has turned the corner on its past proclivity for interference and intervention in political affairs. What has led to this change? First and foremost, General Kayani was perhaps foremost amongst those who understood that the army had acquired a bad image through the nine years of Musharraf’s regime, not necessarily because of what it may or may not have done, but by association. Second, the emergence of the ‘internal threat’ from terrorism as the most critical, more so even than the traditional ‘external’, as exaggeratedly reported by the media reading too much into the ‘Green Book’ transformation of the military and its strategic doctrine, has seen the army with its hands full with the western border and internal terrorism situation. With such a full platter, and 5,000 security personnel (more than in all the wars against India) and 40,000 civilians killed by terrorists, the army has neither time nor inclination for interference in politics. Third, we know from our history that the person of the COAS and his take on things influence profoundly the military’s approach to national affairs. One only has to mention the contrasting roles of Generals Ziaul Haq, Musharraf and Kayani to drive the point home. This is because the discipline of the Pakistan army is still intact (minor blips and some major subversive efforts nipped in the bud in the past notwithstanding) and therefore the personality and outlook of the COAS makes all the difference. Pakistan and its democracy must therefore feel blessed that the present incumbent of the most powerful office in the land has in words and practice been a bulwark for the infant democracy we are all trying to consolidate. If the peaceful transition of power through the ballot box transpires as General Kayani desires, perhaps his dream will be fulfilled and, in the process, the nightmare of military intervention in politics in the past will finally be relegated to the dustbin of history, where it rightfully belongs.