Pakistan’s Military: The Fire Brigade and the Arsonist?

NAJIA TOP, PAKISTAN – FEBRUARY 25: A Pakistani Army soldier stands guard on a strategic mountain February 25, 2008 at Najia Top, in northwestern Pakistan. The army has been battling Islamic militants for months in the area and has taken back large swaths of land which had been controled by insurgents. The country’s commitment to the fight against Taliban and Al Qaeda in the region is a major issue between Pakistan and the United States as the country forms a new government following recent national elections. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Posted: December 14th, 2017

Tensions that mounted during a deadly, Islamist protest in Pakistan last month were resolved not by the country’s civilian government, but by leaders of its military and intelligence agency. The incident was another reminder of who really holds the reins in a tumultuous nation that the U.S. has leaned on to help defeat terrorist adversaries and bring stability to Afghanistan. This reality has serious consequences for U.S. policymakers engaging with Pakistan.

Constitutionally, Pakistan boasts a democratic government where representatives are elected according to popular vote. Behind the scenes, however, the Pakistani military and its intelligence agency, known as the ISI, repeatedly pull the strings that dictate Pakistan’s political direction. Consequently, the U.S. must appeal directly to the Pakistani army to achieve tangible results, but such efforts simultaneously undermine the legitimacy of Pakistan’s civilian government, hindering efforts to promote democracy and free governance in Pakistan.

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