In the wake of Osama bin Laden’s killing in Abbottabad by the Americans, Pakistan’s 111 Brigade — or the “coup brigade” as it is known in popular parlance — is out, knowledgeable sources here have noted.
This military unit has been used in the past to effect a seizure of power, or to prevent a coup, sources point out.
On this occasion, the speculation is that the Army Chief, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, has made an anticipatory move to thwart the designs of possible adversaries.
This is in the backdrop of rising public criticism of the Army for being inept and not being able to prevent a surprise commando raid by a crack US unit which could boldly enter the country undetected and take out the Al Qaeda chieftain residing secretly in a military area.
It is rare for the Pakistan Army to be censured at the public level within the country. Newspaper editorials and columns, and popular television programmes — including those hosted by pro-Army anchors — have taken on the country’s military for its perceived failure to prevent a transgression of national sovereignty. Some have even called for heads to roll.
In the light of the failure in the Abbottabad case, some have wondered in public comments if the Pakistan Army is capable of safeguarding the country’s nuclear assets against a similar commando swoop by the Americans, or even by India.
In order to extricate itself from a difficult situation, especially with regard to domestic public opinion, sources here speak of possible “diversionary” tactics by Pakistan, particularly in relation to India.
Sources point out that the manner in which Washington — where the current talk is of Pakistan’s “betrayal” for harbouring Bin Laden, and politicians have asked for stopping aid to that country — now deals with Islamabad will principally depend on how Pakistan confronts the terrorism issue overall.
Some still think it will be able to turn the corner and stop abetting militants who have been used as proxies to strike at the US forces in Afghanistan, not to say India.
Gen. Kayani is expected to be fully cognisant of the delicate situation his country — and especially the Army — now finds itself in. Besides moves to pre-empt ambitious colleagues, he may also think it necessary to take steps to outmanoeuvre the country’s civilian leadership which might now seek to assert itself.