Armies are not only about combat, but they also serve as a guardian of a nation’s well-being, contributing to its safety, stability, and prosperity, whether defending borders, aiding during disaster, or promoting peace, their role is vital in shaping a nation’s destiny.
India & Pakistan gained independence at the same time but the trajectories of the two nations have been very different. Today, India is eyeing to sit at the table with other superpowers of the world, whereas Pakistan is begging around the world to meet its running expenses.
What went right for India; Democracy & Independent Judiciary.
What went wrong for Pakistan and why it became a Militaristan?
Pakistan’s military always supervised governments, rather than the other way around: either directly, under military rule, or indirectly, by supporting one of the major political parties. It has arrogated to itself a wide latitude of action in several policy domains, particularly in defense and foreign affairs, and influences the main ministries. It installed ex-servicemen in every walk of life. And never let democracy flourish in Pakistan and made it Militaristan .
In India, the judiciary is independent. It applies its mind, protects the rights of the people, and decides cases on their merit.
Whereas in Pakistan cases are decided with guns pointed at judges’ heads, and still, many in the superior judiciary deny that it is happening.
Pakistan’s economy is in an abysmal state. 2023 was marked by high inflation, structural problems in the balance of payments, and a recession, all of which contributed to the need for substantial financial assistance from the IMF. As many argue, Pakistan has become, economically speaking, the ‘sick man’ of South Asia.
With no developmental vision for Pakistan, the military’s role in the economy is a predatory one. It still absorbs a relatively large fraction of national income — around 2 to 3 percent of GDP. Though well down from the figures of the 1980s, this is more than double what Bangladesh spends on its army as a fraction of its income. This is money that could be better spent on productive investments in education, health, and infrastructure.
Around 15 years ago India overtook Pakistan in per capita GDP terms, as did Bangladesh around 2018. The gap has only widened since then and weak growth in Pakistan has exacerbated its macroeconomic difficulties. Structurally, the economy remains weighed down by overregulation and impediments to Pakistan pursuing its comparative advantage in labor-intensive manufactured exports. And above all, corruption by its leaders. While they purchased assets around the world, and Muno-Salva got deposited into their accounts, of which they claim to not know who was doing it. Strangely this happened to only political elites. A common man never saw such windfall in their accounts. Though it has a print of hush money but was never proven in the courts.
In Pakistan, it seems voters no longer seem content to allow the military to designate its preferred electoral outcome unchallenged. Independent candidates aligned with former prime minister Imran Khan’s banned Tehreek-e-Insaf party collectively won a resounding victory in the 8th February parliamentary elections, crushing both of the traditional parties of government, the Muslim League and the People’s Party. However, the military, which has made Pakistan a Militaristan, would not accept it and its General saw the election results as their death warrants.
In India and Pakistan, no General has done more for his country than General Arora who gave a crushing defeat to the Pakistani army, and that ended up creating Bangladesh. After his retirement, General Arora approached then Prime Minister Indra Gandhi for the governorship of a state, but she declined. Whereas in Pakistan a Prime Minster will not dare to do that, rather would dance to the tunes of the Chief of the army.
Pakistan needs to redefine the role of its military and ensure supremacy of the civilian rule. Also, it must have an independent judiciary which deliver without any undue pressure. Without doing that, Pakistan is a failed state.
https://eastasiaforum.org/2024/02/19/ejecting-the-military-from-pakistans-politics/
https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/05/10/military-disrupts-pakistan-s-democracy-once-again-pub-89724
India & Pakistan gained independence at the same time but the trajectories of the two nations have been very different. Today, India is eyeing to sit at the table with other superpowers of the world, whereas Pakistan is begging around the world to meet its running expenses.
What went right for India; Democracy & Independent Judiciary.
What went wrong for Pakistan and why it became a Militaristan?
Pakistan’s military always supervised governments, rather than the other way around: either directly, under military rule, or indirectly, by supporting one of the major political parties. It has arrogated to itself a wide latitude of action in several policy domains, particularly in defense and foreign affairs, and influences the main ministries. It installed ex-servicemen in every walk of life. And never let democracy flourish in Pakistan and made it Militaristan .
In India, the judiciary is independent. It applies its mind, protects the rights of the people, and decides cases on their merit.
Whereas in Pakistan cases are decided with guns pointed at judges’ heads, and still, many in the superior judiciary deny that it is happening.
Pakistan’s economy is in an abysmal state. 2023 was marked by high inflation, structural problems in the balance of payments, and a recession, all of which contributed to the need for substantial financial assistance from the IMF. As many argue, Pakistan has become, economically speaking, the ‘sick man’ of South Asia.
With no developmental vision for Pakistan, the military’s role in the economy is a predatory one. It still absorbs a relatively large fraction of national income — around 2 to 3 percent of GDP. Though well down from the figures of the 1980s, this is more than double what Bangladesh spends on its army as a fraction of its income. This is money that could be better spent on productive investments in education, health, and infrastructure.
Around 15 years ago India overtook Pakistan in per capita GDP terms, as did Bangladesh around 2018. The gap has only widened since then and weak growth in Pakistan has exacerbated its macroeconomic difficulties. Structurally, the economy remains weighed down by overregulation and impediments to Pakistan pursuing its comparative advantage in labor-intensive manufactured exports. And above all, corruption by its leaders. While they purchased assets around the world, and Muno-Salva got deposited into their accounts, of which they claim to not know who was doing it. Strangely this happened to only political elites. A common man never saw such windfall in their accounts. Though it has a print of hush money but was never proven in the courts.
In Pakistan, it seems voters no longer seem content to allow the military to designate its preferred electoral outcome unchallenged. Independent candidates aligned with former prime minister Imran Khan’s banned Tehreek-e-Insaf party collectively won a resounding victory in the 8th February parliamentary elections, crushing both of the traditional parties of government, the Muslim League and the People’s Party. However, the military, which has made Pakistan a Militaristan, would not accept it and its General saw the election results as their death warrants.
In India and Pakistan, no General has done more for his country than General Arora who gave a crushing defeat to the Pakistani army, and that ended up creating Bangladesh. After his retirement, General Arora approached then Prime Minister Indra Gandhi for the governorship of a state, but she declined. Whereas in Pakistan a Prime Minster will not dare to do that, rather would dance to the tunes of the Chief of the army.
Pakistan needs to redefine the role of its military and ensure supremacy of the civilian rule. Also, it must have an independent judiciary which deliver without any undue pressure. Without doing that, Pakistan is a failed state.
https://eastasiaforum.org/2024/02/19/ejecting-the-military-from-pakistans-politics/
https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/05/10/military-disrupts-pakistan-s-democracy-once-again-pub-89724
