The Pakistan Army Officer Corps, Islam and Strategic Culture 1947-2007

303 Pages·2014·1.82 MB·English

The Pakistan Army Officer Corps, Islam and
Strategic Culture 1947-2007
Mark Fraser Briskey

A thesis in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy

UNSW School of Humanities and Social Sciences
04 July 2014
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THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES
PLEASE TYPE
Thesis/Dissertation Sheet
Surname or Family name: Briskey
First name: Mark Other name/s: Fraser
Abbreviation for degree as given in the University calendar: PhD
School: Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty:
Title: The Pakistan Army Officer Corps, Islam and Strategic Culture 1947-2007
Abstract 350 words maximum: (PLEASE TYPE)
This thesis examines the use and mmipulation of Islam as a fu1m of identity and important elemmt of the strategic
culture of the Pakistan Army Officer Corps between 1947 and 2007. Despite the ethnic and cultural d:isparifus within
the population that made up the new nation of Pakistan the Army has continued to rely on a rump of Punjabi and Pakhtun
Officers who have relied on Army interpretations of Islam fur identity. The thesis al'>o argues that the Army from its
outset has consistently conflated notions of the discredited'Mmtial Race' theory and Islam as the basis of the Army's
superiority in comparison to other armies - Imst notably the Indian Army.
Apart from the relationship between 'Mmiial Race' and Islam the thesis al'>o draws links between Islam and a
number of other significant influences on the A1my. An important method of understanding the role of Islam in the Officer Corps
is argued as usefully being understood through the prism of 'strategic culture' themy. Strategic culture theory highlights the
relevance 'of an organisation's history. In particular the theory argues the importance of major 'strategic' shocks and disasters
upon an organisation.. In this way the thesis argues that the tribulations of pmiition and the first Kashmir War of 1947-48,
the 1965 War and above all the 'strategic shock' suffered in the Army's humiliating defuat to India in 1971 were influential in
shaping an Army culture in which Islam was prominent.
The thesis concludes that in a titre period when Western or other Asian powers may consider it anachronistic to
call upon a religion and an uncompromising belief in a deity to provide an advantage in combat, there are Officers in the
Pakistan Army in the last decade of the twentieth centUiy and in the first decade of the new centUIY who hold these belie£;
as innate truths and an essential element of their Army culture.
Declaration relating to disposition of project thesis/dissertation
I hereby grant to the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or in
part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all property
rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation.
I also authorise University Mi films to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstracts International (this is applicable to doctoral
theses only).
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ses that there may be exceptional circumstances requiring restrictions on copying or conditions on use. Requests for
restriction for a peri of up to 2 years must be made in writing. Requests for a longer period of restriction may be considered in exceptional
circumstances and re uire the a roval of the Dean of Graduate Research.
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Date of completion of requirements for Award:
THIS SHEET IS TO BE GLUED TO THE INSIDE FRONT COVER OF THE THESIS
ii
Abstract

This thesis examines the use and manipulation of Islam as a form of identity
and important element of the strategic culture of the Pakistan Army Officer Corps
between 1947 and 2007. Despite the ethnic and cultural disparities within the
population that made up the new nation of Pakistan the Army has continued to rely on
a rump of Punjabi and Pakhtun Officers who have relied on Army interpretations of
Islam for identity. The thesis also argues that the Army from its outset has
consistently conflated notions of the discredited‘Martial Race’ theory and Islam as the
basis of the Army’s superiority in comparison to other armies - most notably the
Indian Army.
Apart from the relationship between ‘Martial Race’ and Islam the thesis also
draws links between Islam and a number of other significant influences on the Army.
An important method of understanding the role of Islam in the Officer Corps is argued
as usefully being understood through the prism of ‘strategic culture’ theory. Strategic
culture theory highlights the relevance of an organisation’s history. In particular the
theory argues the importance of major ‘strategic’ shocks and disasters upon an
organisation.. In this way the thesis argues that the tribulations of partition and the
first Kashmir War of 1947–48, the 1965 War and above all the ‘strategic shock’
suffered in the Army’s humiliating defeat to India in 1971 were influential in shaping
an Army culture in which Islam was prominent.
The thesis concludes that in a time period when Western or other Asian
powers may consider it anachronistic to call upon a religion and an uncompromising
belief in a deity to provide an advantage in combat, there are Officers in the Pakistan
Army in the last decade of the twentieth century and in the first decade of the new
century who hold these beliefs as innate truths and an essential element of their Army
culture.

iii
Acknowledgements

In undertaking this dissertation I was very fortunate in receiving the help and
generous assistance of many persons over a number of years. Firstly my great thanks
to Eleanor Hancock and Jeff Grey for their advice, encouragement and patience over
the course of the entire dissertation, and Craig Stockings for his motivation towards
the end of the project. I am also extremely grateful for the funding of my travel to
undertake research for this project on two occasions by the University of New South
Wales. I would also like to thank the examiners of this dissertation for their comments
which have made it all that more insightful. Additionally I want to thank Bernadette
McDermot, Rita Parker, Mark O’Neill and Emily Robertson for their discussions and
encouragement that helped this project along.
Many other people generously gave of their time, knowledge, advice and
guidance on various matters over the years. Thanks to the Burma Star Association in
the United Kingdom, Robert Lyman, Tom Bruin, John Randle, Patric Emerson, Tarak
Barkawi, Brian Cloughley and his wife Margaret for graciously hosting me at their
lovely home in France to avail myself of Brian’s encyclopedic knowledge of the
Pakistan Army. My thanks are also due to John Chiles, Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema,
Kaushik Roy, members of the Pakistan-Australia Forum, the Pakistan High
Commission Canberra and those officers of the Pakistan Army in Pakistan such as
Brigadier Talat Munir who inspired me to undertake this project and unstintingly
gave of their time in steering me onto previously unknown troves of primary sources
and responding graciously to my queries on matters new and old.
Finally, but not at all least, special acknowledgment to my wife Helen,
children Flyn and Hannah for their love, enduring patience and kind understanding as
I pursued this project over a long period of time in Australia and overseas. I love you
all.
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Table of Contents
Abstract....................................................................................................................... iiii
Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................... iv
Table of Contents ......................................................................................................... v
Glossary....................................................................................................................... vii
Abbreviations ............................................................................................................... x
Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1
Chapter I Religion, Martial Race and Myth in the British Indian Army from
the late 19th Century to 1947 ..................................................................................... 22
Chapter II Turbulent Birth: the Pakistan Army ................................................. 54
1947 – 1951......................................................................................................................
Partition, division of the British-Indian Army, Kashmir, Islam and the
foundations of the Strategic Culture of the Pakistan Army...................................
Chapter III Independence and evolution: 1951-1958 .......................................... 91
Chapter IV Birth of the Praetorian State: 1958-1970........................................ 119
Chapter V War, Islam and Dismemberment: 1970-1971.................................. 142
Chapter VI Bangladesh, Bhutto, Zia and the Institutionalisation of Islam:
1971-1988 166
Chapter VII The Army and Islam in the ‘Democratic Interregnum’ 1988-1999
191
Chapter VIII The Anvil 1999-2007 ...................................................................... 222
Chapter IX Conclusion ......................................................................................... 251
Bibliography ............................................................................................................. 259

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vi
Glossary

Amir Commander, chief
Basant Is a February spring festival acquired from Hindu tradition that
was practiced and celebrated until recently by Muslims in
Lahore by kite flying until the advent of Islamism in the new
millennium

Bihar/Bihari Bihar and Bihari is not the identification of the people of Bihar
but is rather referring to the variety of Urdu speaking people
who migrated from India to East Pakistan after partition. In this
regard they were referred to as Biharis as a manner of
distinguishing them from Bengalis
Fiqh Islamic jurisprudence
Ghazi Warrior of the faith (in British times a ‘fanatic’)
Hadith Tradition (of the Prophet)
Hudood Islamic Penal Code
Hurs A Muslim Sufi community of Pakistan
Islam Submission
Jatha A body of armed Sikhs and/or war-party
Jawan Soldier
Jazirat-ul-Arab A Muslim reference to the Holy Land of the Arabian Peninsula
Jihad al-akbar The greater jihad (struggle)
Jihad al-asghar The lesser jihad
Jihad fi sabil allah Jihad in the way of Allah
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