 DesPardes.com: I understand May 31st was the first
anniversary of your book "Military Inc.?
Ayesha Siddiqa: Yes, that is when the book was
launched much less peacefully than what was planned.
DesPardes.com: Looking back, what do you have to say
about it and the events there after?
Ayesha Siddiqa: Things have changed marginally in the
country. Unfortunately, most
of the people in the military and even the larger civil
society have not read or understood the book. They just look
at the juicy bits and not understand the core thesis of the
book. I didn’t mean to write a political thriller but
looking at what people are saying I seem to have written a
political pornography.
DesPardes.com: It means you are not happy...
Ayesha Siddiqa: Technically, I should be happy that
the book has sold well but people like to fast
forward to the juicy bits in the book without understanding
the context which is that the book tries to explain a
certain kind of military capital that is predatory and
exists all over and that I was trying to make an effort to
understand how this capital has influenced Pakistan's
politics. The other thing which I tried to say is that this
military capital is part of the larger elite economy.
DesPardes.com: You and your book did open the lid on
a "hush hush" topic thereby raising the ire of people who
matter in Pakistan. Any anecdote you would like to share
with our readers?
Ayesha Siddiqa: I think people appreciated the book
even without reading it for what it seems to have done which
is to break a taboo. The publicity it got shows what people
want to say.
DesPardes.com: What do you say about things as they
stand now, particularly the army's predatory role, both
economical and political?
Ayesha Siddiqa: The military's predatory role
continues. Nothing has changed. The military remains one of
the key actors in politics and economy. The new government
talks about reducing the defense budget but the military is
spread all over the economy which bolsters its political
power. This needs to be curtailed.
DesPardes.com: What about COAS Gen Kayani's move to
pull military out of politics? Do you think it is only
cosmetic?
Ayesha Siddiqa: Has he really pulled the military out
of politics? And can he actually pull it out of politics
since the Pakistani military is a political animal. He will
get sucked right into the thick of politics once the
situation becomes unstable. Also, with Musharraf there, he
would be inclined to continue playing the political game.
DesPardes.com: Do u think there is a nexus between
Kayani, Musharraf and the U.S.?
Ayesha Siddiqa: There is no straight nexus. Each are playing
their game. Kiyani right now is more of a toothless Yahya
Khan, so he is probably trying to be more assertive. An
evidence is that so many things are happening internally
that you cannot make any head or tail of.
DesPardes.com: Where does Zardari fit into the scheme
of things?
Ayesha Siddiqa: Musharraf wants to survive
politically and he has American support. The U.S. wants him
there to mind the house for them.
DesPardes.com: In that case is Zardari the usher boy?
Ayesha Siddiqa: Zardari is a secondary player...
DesPardes.com: What do you say to the latest news
that Pentagon plans to put boots in ground in Waziristan?
Ayesha Siddiqa: The US is uncomfortable with the
peace deals. They would like to finish off the operation
before November to show something to their credit.
DesPardes.com: There are some suggestions in your
book regarding diluting the predatory role of the military
in Pakistan's economy and politics...aren't they similar
with PPP's poll manifesto?
Ayesha Siddiqa: PPP's election manifesto talks about
doing away wth NSC, putting ISI's control under civil, etc.
PPP wants to reduce the military's role. Anyone who wants to
do that would have to curb the military's economic empire.
DesPardes.com: If you were to give one piece of
advice to Musharraf, what would it be?
Ayesha Siddiqa: Step down and be loyal to the
country.
DesPardes.com: With your book and pen you have come
out a Ghazi where Z A Bhutto ended up becoming a martyr with his
words and actions. Do you realize you have become an icon, specially in a society where woman are less
equal than men?
Ayesha Siddiqa: Bhutto lost his life, I lost my space
to operate within my own country. Suddenly people begin to
meet more carefully. They look up to you but don't want to
follow the example. Friends back stab you to take away
opportunities and institutions would not consider you for a
job because what you have said does not get Musharraf's
approval. Let me give you an example. Any institution in
Pakistan like a university or college which uses US AID
money for books and libraries cannot buy my book because the
US AID has banned it,
and by the way, I am not complaining. This comes with the
territory.
DesPardes.com: If you were given the task to redraw
the square circle of military's role and existence in
political affairs, would you be willing to take up the challenge?
Ayesha Siddiqa: Sure and one would do it with a lot
of dialogue and discussion. The intention was never to
humiliate any institution but point out the problems it was
causing itself and to the country. Just look at the South
African example where they restructured the armed forces
based on input obtained from all stakeholders including the
general public. So, why cannot this be done in Pakistan’s
case?
DesPardes.com: What is your next book about and when
do you think it may hit the market?
Ayesha Siddiqa: The title of my next book is :
Sinners, Saints and Soldiers of God. It is about how
different diverse worlds co-exist in Pakistan and what
spaces do they take. This is an effort to understand
jihadism and religiosity in the larger social context. The
other project I am working on is to do socio-political
mapping of Pakistan’s elite power. It will help understand
how the small group of the powerful operate in Pakistan.
DesPardes.com: Is it a novel?
Ayesha Siddiqa: Non-fiction.
DesPardes.com: Thanks you.
Ayesha Siddiqa: Welcome.
|
Comments > |
| |
Shakil Khan, Karachi
Dr Ayesha is right. Our military is predatory in
nature and it continues to wreck the economy as well
as the politics. It will increase and only a
revolution can reverse it. But the chances of such
happening are slim, thanks to competing vested
interests. |
| |
Syed Asif Mehmood, Karachi
She (Dr Ayesha) has malafide intentions. She is
either nadan dost or playing right into the
hands of the enemies. |
| |
Syed Faiz Al-Najdi, Riyadh
"Military Inc." was not only timely,
it was a much needed work. She should be credited
for braving all odds to have it published and then
finally getting it launched in such a bold manner
never seen before in Pakistan. She is right that her
work is grossly misunderstood. Pak army is full of
Gen. Iskander Mirza, Field Marshal Ayub, Gen. Yahya,
Gen. Zia and Gen. Musharraf. It is only a matter of
turn that brings forth one of them in the full of
view. |
| |
Narku, Ghana
Nice interview. |
| |
Khawaja Muzaffer, U.A.E.
For God's sake, what is wrong with a General being
toothless? Are we not tired of aggressive Generals?
We need toothless ones. |
| |
Javed Ansari, Karachi
She doesn't have anything substantial to say in her
interview. Her book is also a boring, lumbering
narrative that reads more like a doctorate thesis.
It just happened to come out or was engineered to
come at a time when the anti-Musharraf and
anti-military sentiment were being deliberately
ratcheted up in Pakistan and it served as a handy
tool for those behind the campaign. I am of course
not saying that the military in Pakistan is not
all-pervasive but I think more work needs to be done
to bring out the facts. |
| |
Baseer Naveed, Hong Kong
She is right that people generally go for juicy bits
but her book is much more like a reference book,
that is why it was read more in comparison to other
books. The book is well read by Pakistanis as well.
It should be translated in local language. |
| |
Jalal Ahmed, Toronto
Dr Ayesha is right. The military junta will always
remain a political animal just like in Burma. But I
disagree with her that Zardari is a secondary
player. Minus NRO he is no player at all. |
| |
| Note: Comments are edited for
clarity and space limitations. |
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