The Pakistan Army is likely reacting with glee to the disturbing news that its nemesis, the Indian Army, is being embroiled in a controversy involving homosexuality.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Bipin Rawat made a big issue out of a non-issue yesterday by saying the Army won't allow homosexuality in its ranks despite obvious evidence to the contrary. He said the Army remains conservative and will not allow gays and adultery.
"We can't allow it (homosexuality) to perpetuate into the Army," said Gen. Rawat. And this seems to mean that "jawans" must all be "macho."
Following the decriminalization of homosexuality by the Indian Supreme Court in 2018, Gen. Rawat was famously quoted as saying, "hum logon ke yahan nahi chalega" (all this won't work here).
The problem here is that Gen. Rawat seems to suggest the Army won't abide by the Supreme Court ruling, setting the stage for a constitutional crisis. Gen. Rawat deepened the imbroglio by claiming the Constitution does give the Army some independence. To his critics, this remark is a declaration that the Army is above the law.
"We are neither modernized, nor westernized. LGBT issues are not acceptable to us," he said.
He emphasized that all issues regarding homosexuality or lesbianism will be dealt with under the Army Act.
"In the Army, these (homosexuality or lesbianism) are not acceptable. We will not allow this to happen in the Army," he affirmed.
Military laws governing the Indian Armed Forces bar homosexuality and see it as a punishable offense that includes a court-martial and up to seven years in jail.
The pertinent sections in the Army Act, 1950 remain vague, however. Section 45 talks about "unbecoming conduct" of officers without explaining exactly what this unbecoming conduct is.
As for punishment, this is left to Section 46 (a) that says any person guilty of any disgraceful conduct of a "cruel, indecent or unnatural kind" will, on conviction by court-martial, face up to seven years in jail.
Gen. Rawat had earlier stoked controversy by claiming Indian women are not ready for combat roles. He said women have the responsibility of raising children. He believes a woman will feel uncomfortable at the frontlines and might tempt jawans to peep at her as she changes clothes.
As for the military situation at the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, Gen. Rawat said the Army is doing well on both on the Western and the Northern Front. He also said that the Indian Army has managed the situation well along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. He did note, however, the situation in Jammu & Kashmir needs to be improved further.
He said the Indian Army are only facilitators for peace in Jammu and Kashmir while noting that violence is being perpetrated by Jammu and Kashmir's own people.
