Shaukat Qadir
Encyclopedia
Shaukat Qadir is an independent Risk and Security Analyst on South Asia
in general and Pakistan
and Afghanistan
in particular. He started his career as a pilot in the Pakistan Air Force
(PAF) and then moved to the Pakistan Army
retiring in 1998 as a Brigadier
. In 1999, he became the founder and vice president (and later president) of the semi-independent think-tank Islamabad Policy Research Institute
(IPRI). In 2001, he sought early retirement from there due to disagreements with the military government. Since then, he has been visiting-faculty at the Fatima Jinnah Women University
, an author in various national and international newspapers and journals and an independent Security and Risk Assessment consultant.
in 1968 and in 1970 was commissioned in the 6th Battalion, Frontier Force Regiment, 6 FF (Infantry).
He returned from his 6-month sojourn in erstwhile East Pakistan
, now Bangladesh
weeks before the surrender at the end of the 1971 war
. He saw action during the Balochistan insurgency
in the 1970s. Over the years, he has commanded 3 brigades, served on the staff of a brigade, a division, and a corps; and has been on the faculty of the infantry school, Command and Staff College
, and the War Wing at the National Defence University, Islamabad
. In 1998 he sought and obtained early retirement from the Army.
In 1999, he founded the Islamabad Policy Research Institute
(IPRI) and became the vice president - once again, seeking early retirement from IPRI in 2001. In the meanwhile and continuing since, he has been a free-lance journalist, an author with a weekly column, a member of visiting faculty at the Fatima Jinnah Women's University
an invited speaker and author at various national and international conferences and journals.
. In the past, he has written for the Far Eastern Economic Review
, RUSI - Royal United Services Institute (UK)
, PILDAT - Pakistan Institute for Legislative Development and Transparency, Rediff.com (India)
, Dawn (Pakistan)
, The Round Table Journal, among others.
(carried by RUSI )is highly cited and generally viewed as an objective analysis by both sides of the divide.
In general he is apolitical and a democrat, who believes that the military should remain subordinate to the elected leaders and should have no political role. He stated as much in 1990 to the then Army Chief, while he was a student at the National Defence College
(now University), and also after retirement, at various forums.
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
in general and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
in particular. He started his career as a pilot in the Pakistan Air Force
Pakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
(PAF) and then moved to the Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
retiring in 1998 as a Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
. In 1999, he became the founder and vice president (and later president) of the semi-independent think-tank Islamabad Policy Research Institute
Islamabad Policy Research Institute
Islamabad Policy Research Institute is located in Islamabad, Pakistan. It was founded by the retired brigadier Shaukat Qadir who was also the former vice president at the institute....
(IPRI). In 2001, he sought early retirement from there due to disagreements with the military government. Since then, he has been visiting-faculty at the Fatima Jinnah Women University
Fatima Jinnah Women University
Fatima Jinnah Women University was established in 1998 at Old Presidency in Rawalpindi. It is situated on mall road, Rawalpindi. It is the first female university in Pakistan. A sub-campus of FJWU is being established at Sialkot. The university is ranked at number 18 in general category of HEC...
, an author in various national and international newspapers and journals and an independent Security and Risk Assessment consultant.
Background
Shaukat began his military career as a Flight Cadet in the PAF in 1965. He joined the Pakistan Military AcademyPakistan Military Academy
The Pakistan Military Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service military academy. It is located at Kakul near Abbottabad in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan....
in 1968 and in 1970 was commissioned in the 6th Battalion, Frontier Force Regiment, 6 FF (Infantry).
He returned from his 6-month sojourn in erstwhile East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
, now Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
weeks before the surrender at the end of the 1971 war
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases...
. He saw action during the Balochistan insurgency
Balochistan conflict
The Balochistan conflict is an ongoing conflict between Baloch nationalists and the Government of Pakistan over Balochistan, the country's largest province...
in the 1970s. Over the years, he has commanded 3 brigades, served on the staff of a brigade, a division, and a corps; and has been on the faculty of the infantry school, Command and Staff College
Command and Staff College
The Command and Staff College was established in 1907 at Quetta, Balochistan, British Raj, now in Pakistan, and is the oldest and the most prestigious institution of the Pakistan Army. It was established in 1905 in Deolali and moved to its present location at Quetta in 1907 under the name of Quetta...
, and the War Wing at the National Defence University, Islamabad
National Defence University, Islamabad
The National Defense University is an institution of higher education funded by the Ministry of Defence of Government of Pakistan, intended to facilitate high-level training, education, and the development of national security strategy...
. In 1998 he sought and obtained early retirement from the Army.
In 1999, he founded the Islamabad Policy Research Institute
Islamabad Policy Research Institute
Islamabad Policy Research Institute is located in Islamabad, Pakistan. It was founded by the retired brigadier Shaukat Qadir who was also the former vice president at the institute....
(IPRI) and became the vice president - once again, seeking early retirement from IPRI in 2001. In the meanwhile and continuing since, he has been a free-lance journalist, an author with a weekly column, a member of visiting faculty at the Fatima Jinnah Women's University
Fatima Jinnah Women University
Fatima Jinnah Women University was established in 1998 at Old Presidency in Rawalpindi. It is situated on mall road, Rawalpindi. It is the first female university in Pakistan. A sub-campus of FJWU is being established at Sialkot. The university is ranked at number 18 in general category of HEC...
an invited speaker and author at various national and international conferences and journals.
Author and Columnist
Shaukat has been writing in various newspapers, magazines, journals and books over the last decade, both nationally and internationally. He has a weekly column in the Daily Times (Pakistan) and also writes regularly for The National (Abu Dhabi)The National (Abu Dhabi)
The National is a government-owned English-language daily newspaper published in Abu Dhabi. The editor-in-chief since June 8, 2009 has been Hassan Fattah. Prior to this, and from the launch of the newspaper Martin Newland was editor-in-chief. Mubadala Development Company, an investment company...
. In the past, he has written for the Far Eastern Economic Review
Far Eastern Economic Review
The Far Eastern Economic Review was an English language Asian news magazine started in 1946. It printed its final issue in December 2009. The Hong Kong-based business magazine was originally published weekly...
, RUSI - Royal United Services Institute (UK)
Royal United Services Institute
The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies , officially still known by its old name, the Royal United Services Institution, is a British defence and security think tank. It was founded in 1831 by The Duke of Wellington.RUSI describes itself asIt won Prospect Magazine's...
, PILDAT - Pakistan Institute for Legislative Development and Transparency, Rediff.com (India)
Rediff.com
Rediff.com India is a news, information, entertainment, and shopping portal. It was founded in 1996 as "Rediff On The NeT" and is headquartered in Mumbai, India with offices in New Delhi and New York City, USA....
, Dawn (Pakistan)
Dawn (newspaper)
Dawn is Pakistan's oldest and most widely read English-language newspaper. One of the country's two largest English-language dailies, it is the flagship of the Dawn Group of Newspapers, published by Pakistan Herald Publications, which also owns the Herald, a magazine, the evening paper The Star and...
, The Round Table Journal, among others.
Pakistan Army
Shaukat has been vocal about his criticism (and when deserved, his praise) about the government of Pakistan and also of other countries. His analysis of the Kargil WarKargil War
The Kargil War ,, also known as the Kargil conflict, was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir and elsewhere along the Line of Control...
(carried by RUSI )is highly cited and generally viewed as an objective analysis by both sides of the divide.
In general he is apolitical and a democrat, who believes that the military should remain subordinate to the elected leaders and should have no political role. He stated as much in 1990 to the then Army Chief, while he was a student at the National Defence College
National Defence University, Islamabad
The National Defense University is an institution of higher education funded by the Ministry of Defence of Government of Pakistan, intended to facilitate high-level training, education, and the development of national security strategy...
(now University), and also after retirement, at various forums.
"Apart from the fact that such avoidance of responsibility by the political leadership is tantamount to a tacit acceptance of a continued political role of the military, no military can, or should, possibly be expected to cater for all political considerations."
"Ours is a country with a history of military coups and, even when the army was not running the country, its political power was an ominous presence. Ayub Khan started well, till he led us into an unnecessary war in 1965, which we were fortunate to end in a stalemate. Yahya Khan didn’t initiate a war but he created conditions for India to dismember us. Zia-ul Haq gave birth to religious extremism and the drug/Kalashnikov culture. Pervez Musharraf went farther than all the rest: he permitted terrorists to flower, in instances like Lal Masjid, even nurtured them until there was no option left but to use force which caused the death of hundreds of children. Democratic army chiefs have been a rarity."
Abstract Philosophy
His more abstract political and philosophical views are scattered in various articles and seem inspired from Jean Jacque Rousseau’s ‘A Social Contract’, which he often quotes in his articles. He believes that while sovereignty lies with the people, it is transferred to their elected representatives, by the people. Consequently, elected representatives are bound by the democratic system to deliver 'good governance', in the widest sense of the term.
"There is one inalienable right of the citizens of society i.e. liberty (in all its forms) and therefore the state exists for but one purpose alone i.e. to ensure the individual and collective rights of its citizens. To this end, the state is the only organisation authorised the use of force; but that too solely in attempting to achieve this end that it exists for."