by Brig Arun Bajpai

Three times Pakistani Prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Ruling Pakistani party Muslim League (Nawaz) tallest leader as also president and now EX in both due to Pakistani SC, Nawaz Sharif’s relations with all powerful Pakistani Army are getting from bad to worse. Nawaz Sharif is the only Pakistani leader who is not only very popular mass leader of Pakistan but has dared to take Panga with its Army due to which Pakistani Army is totally stumped. Even though Pakistani Army and their SC have joined hands in oust Nawaz campaign but Nawaz Sharif is not taking it laying down but giving Pakistani Army back where it counts.

Navaz Sharif latest allegations against Pakistani Army and their SC are that after he came back with thumping majority in 2013 general elections in Pakistan and launched the treason charges against General Musharraf, for setting aside Pakistani Constitution and imposing on Pakistan military coup, his troubles started. He says that he was threatened by the ISI head that either withdraw these charges against Musharraf or resign and leave the country. He says that not even in the third world countries these types are threats given to their duly elected PMs by their subordinates. He further alleges that since he did not bother about these threats so Pakistani Army got hold of Imran Khan the chief of Tehrik-e-Insaf party and Maulana Qadri of Canada for sit in Dharna in 2014 against him, basic aim being to weaken him. This dharna lasted for four months on trumpet up charges that 2013 elections were rigged. He said that all that he wanted was since his election in 2013 that Pakistani Army should stop running a parallel government in Pakistan and stop pampering and promoting Jihadist organisations to do cross border Jihad against India and Afghanistan, which was isolating Pakistan in the world forum. He said that he wanted Pakistani Army to function under the democratic head that was him but Pakistani Army refuses to do so.

Since last year Pakistani Army has joined hands with Pakistani SC to throw out Nawaz Sharif. Last year suddenly Pakistan SC came up with an allegation that since Nawaz Sharif had hidden the retainer he was getting from his sons Dubai Firm in his IT return so he is corrupt and cannot continue to be Prime Minster of Pakistan. Surely this is a very spurious argument. If this criteria of corruption is applied to all politicians of Pakistan then all will be found corrupt. Three months back this year on the same charges and arguments Pakistani SC had disqualified Nawaz Sharif that he cannot be leader of his political party or hold any other political appointment.

the Pakistani Army game is that convert the Sharif allegations that Pakistani Army is running a parallel government and sponsoring jihadist organisations to go across to India to launch terror attacks and isolating Pakistan in world forum, into India-Pakistan affair, thereby taking the focus away from Nawaz Sharif Charges. Specially so since general elections are to be held in Pakistan by end June or July and caretaker government will take over reins of power in Pakistan by 31 May. It is necessary for India to go all out now to expose Pakistani Army and its nefarious game quoting Nawaz Sharif. India must not succumb to Pakistani Army dangling olive branch in the name of its Army Chief Bajwa doctrine that Pakistan wants peace talks resumed with India and wants peaceful relations. Pakistani Army wants peace with India OK but wants to continue sponsoring jihadist activities against India calling these jihadists non state actors. India must not allow this to happen. Pakistani Army must first finish of this cancer of jihadist organisations on their soil if they want peace with India. Truth is that this army will never have peace with India. We will always have to live with a hostile Pakistan.

Brig Arun Bajpai (Retd) is a distinguished Defence and Strategic Analyst. Views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of IDN. IDN does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same