Taking Siachen lightly

In what was probably his last interview as Defence Minister, Ch Ahmed Mukhtar, told the BBC that the Pakistan and Indian militaries were both hurdles in the way of withdrawing forces from the Siachen Glacier. The citizenry will take little comfort in the fact that Ch Mukhtar’s grasp of his (now) former portfolio left much to be desired, and he is now responsible for tackling the crippling loadshedding afflicting the country. His faulty memory is to be pitied for letting him down; given that just a few weeks ago, it was the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff, General Kayani who suggested the de-militarisation of the highest warzone in the world. To this sane suggestion, the Indian Army Chief responded with an air of ridicule, alleging that the offer was insincere and that India saw no reason to make territorial concessions to Pakistan. President Zardari also supported and echoed General Kayani’s suggestion before his Indian counterparts, but to no avail. For Ch Ahmed Mukhtar to speak on behalf of Pakistan and insult our own military, which has made a genuine effort to resolve Siachen in recent history, is unfair in the extreme and will not endear him to Pakistanis in general.

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Ch Ahmed Mukhtar, now that he is no longer the defence minister, should perhaps abstain from making statements related to the armed forces and leave the job to Mr Naveed Qamar, to whom it now falls. If he does not desist, the President and the Prime Minister, who still find him space in the party and the cabinet, should advise him in this regard. He has already done enough damage as it is, and should not be allowed to put his foot in his mouth again.