Role of Pakistan’s Armed Forces in 2010 Floods

When nature laid its wrath on Pakistan in July 2010, engulfing major parts of the country with devastating floods, it demanded that the nation stand tall. This led to emergence of the Pakistani army as the dominant national player in rescue missions. The army’s role gave clear evidence of careful planning, optimal utilisation of resources, sharp foresight, and bold leadership. The army conducted and participated in numerous life-saving operations, and reinvented itself during one of the toughest times faced by this war-struck country. It involved itself in every aspect of the job, and rendered full support in terms of resources and rescue efforts. It helped in controlling the damage to a large extent thereby saving not only lives, but also the means of livelihood. In some ways, these events led to a shift in the previously held negative international opinion of the Pakistani armed forces.

This achievement of the Pakistani army is narrated as a case study that describes and compares the role of armed forces in disaster management and nation-building activities, across the globe. The importance of cooperation between civil administration and military is also discussed, especially with regard to such events where all the national organisations of a country need to work together to bring back peace and stability in the internal environment. Natural calamities can strike any continent or country at any point of time. The events of July 2010 in Pakistan only reinforce the importance and need for us to get our act together and use this experience to create an efficient framework to ensure effective disaster management.