CSS 2024 Solved Pakistan Affairs Past Papers | Need of Pragmatic Civil-Military Relations in Pakistan
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Question Breakdown
In this question, first we need to shed light on the need for civil-military amicable relations for addressing internal and external threats to make a stable and secure Pakistan. And then, we need to highlight the role of a peaceful and stable Pakistan in context of South Asia.
Question Breakdown
In this question, first we need to shed light on the need for civil-military amicable relations for addressing internal and external threats to make a stable and secure Pakistan. And then, we need to highlight the role of a peaceful and stable Pakistan in context of South Asia.
Outline
1- Introduction
2- A brief Account of the History of civil-military relations in Pakistan
3- Why Pragmatic and Amicable relations between the civil and military are indispensable to address the internal and external challenges
3.1- Addressing Internal Threats to the national security of Pakistan
- ✓Countering Terrorism
- ✓Tackling Balochistan Insurgency
- ✓Ensuring Nuclear Security
- ✓Bringing Political Stability and Democratic Governance
3.2- Addressing External Threats to the national security of Pakistan
- ✓Dealing with Border Insecurity threats from India
- ✓Responding effectively to the Threats emanating from Afghanistan
- ✓Tackling Cyber-security Threats
- ✓Combatting Cross-border terrorism
4- What role a stable and secure Pakistan can play in South Asia
- ✓ Peacefully resolving The Kashmir Dispute
- ✓ Maintaining Nuclear Deterrence and Stability
- ✓ Facilitating Economic Corridors and Regional Connectivity
- ✓ Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Diplomatic Relations
5- Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
Civil-military relations are an important aspect of every nation that needs significant attention. State constitutions and other policy documents try to delineate relations between the civil government and its military to avoid any misunderstanding and promote cooperation between both organs while limiting both to work in their respective mandates. Pakistan has a mixed history of civil-military relations, sometimes standing united on national interests, like the Kashmir issue and terrorism, while sometimes standing far apart on issues, like the Kargil issue and the Memo Gate Scandal. However, there lies greater incentives for Pakistani civil-military leadership to cooperate and coordinate in the form of creating peace and security in the country by effectively tackling internal and external threats. The peace and stability achieved as a result of balanced civil-military relationships can have broader impacts on the South Asian region, too, in the form of peace in the region by avoiding potential wars on issues like the historical Kashmir conflict, preventing the unauthorized usage of Pakistani nuclear nukes, and fostering regional connectivity. In short, stable civil-military relations in Pakistan are propitious for the entire South Asian region.
A Brief Account of the History of civil-military Relations in Pakistan
The initial years of the newly born state were marked with political instability and frequent changes in government, which undermined the political institutions and created a power vacuum. The vacuum was very efficiently filled by the military in the 1958 coup. The military dictator, General Ayub Khan, took the reins of the country for over 11 years. His era also known as “Decade of Development” led the country to economic growth and rapid industrialization, but at the same time, political dissent grew due to his authoritarian policies and the lack of democratic freedoms. So, in 1969, he resigned and handed over power to General Yahya Khan, marking another phase of direct military rule. Following the 1970 general elections, which were won by East Pakistan’s (now Bangladesh) Awami League, the decision of General Yahya, then Chief Martial Law Administrator, not to transfer power to Sheikh Mujib, who won the majority, resulted in a civil war in East Pakistan. This civil war eventually resulted in separation from the West Pakistan (now Pakistan). This event greatly disparaged the image of the Army and reduced its legitimacy in governing the state. Consequently, power was transferred to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who was a great advocate of civilian supremacy and exercised power till 1977. However, his repressive and authoritarian regime was not welcomed by the political parties, which resulted in growing discontent among various segments of society. This opportunity was once again grabbed by the military, and martial law under the leadership of another military dictator, General Zia, was imposed, ending in 1988 with the death of General Zia in a plane crash. In 1988, power was transferred to civilian leadership, which remained till 1999. In this period, the military acted as a behind-the-scenes power broker. In 1999, accusing civil leadership of corruption and economic mismanagement, Pakistan tolerated another military dictator, General Musharaf, who ruled it till 2008, when President Musharaf finally resigned as a result of the lawyers’ movement, which erupted in the wake of the Chief Justice of Supreme Court removal in 2007. Power has since then remained in civilian hands, but the position of the military in politics has just changed from rule to role. The military is enjoying significant leverage on the state’s foreign policy, relations with states, such as the US, India, and Afghanistan, in particular, and domestic matters.
Why Pragmatic and Amicable relations between the civil and military are indispensable to address the internal and external challenges
A-Addressing Internal Threats
- Countering Terrorism
Terrorism is a national threat to Pakistan, and countering it strongly needs strong civil-military coordination. Successful military operations need a consensus between the civil and military institutions and a shared resolve to do so. National Internal Security Policy (NISP 2014-18) is a policy document that showed the joint efforts of the military and civilian leadership towards the issue of terrorism. Similarly, Zarb-e-Azab’s military operation against militants was successful because it involved the participation of military institutions entrusted with dismantling militants’ sanctuaries and civil setup, entrusted with rehabilitating and reintegrating the region into the national fabric of the country. A unified strategy and policy formation, intelligence sharing and gathering, operational and technical capabilities enhancement, and building public support and legitimacy for military adventures against the militants is necessary to end uprooting this evil from the country. A US Institute of Peace report highlights that greater willingness by the military to bring civilians into their military campaign planning processes and to train and assist civil institutions (particularly the police force) would bolster security. So, healthy civil-military relations are seen as a workable plan to tackle terrorism-related issues in the country.
- Tackling Balochistan Insurgency
Balochistan’s insurgency is the one that needs civil-military cooperation the most. Military actions to counter insurgencies must be assisted with civilian setup’s negotiation efforts with the locals to address their grievances in a peaceful way so that they can participate in the building efforts of the region in particular and the State in general. Apart from neutralizing potential threats of insurgency by the military, the Centre is responsible for promoting economic development in the region to increase job and upward mobility opportunities for the locals. The initiative of Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan is one such initiative of civil-military cooperation to make the situation of Balochistan better by listening to the political and security concerns of the general public.
- Ensuring Nuclear Security
Good civil-military relations guarantee a unified command and control structure, ensuring coordination and communication between the civilian and military leadership. This cooperation is essential to prevent the unauthorized use of nukes as the decisions are well-thought-out and well-coordinated. Pakistan’s National Command Authority symbolizes a balanced approach to command and control of nuclear arsenals. In times of crisis, such relations help in a coordinated response to avert escalation and maintain strategic stability. Civilian oversight over the arsenals tempers the aggressive posture of a military with diplomatic efforts, avoiding any wider conflict. Programs like the Personnel Rehabilitation Program (PRP) are a symbol of civilian oversight and military security protocols to detect and eliminate insider threats to nukes. Additionally, cooperative relations between civil and military projects a more credible image on the global stage.
- Bringing Political Stability and Democratic Governance
Good civil-military relations ensure the military respects public offices. Under such cases, the military respects its constitutional duties and avoids intervening in civil affairs of the state, even if it finds a void. They always prefer constitutional practices and refrain from overstepping their bounds. The military’s respect for democratic processes, such as elections, legislative functioning, and transition of powers, builds trust in the public for their public institutions, preventing the crisis that arises from election manipulations or legislative gridlock. In countries like the US and India, the democratic processes and public institutions are truly respected by their military, and that is why they have not seen any military coup in their history to date. In Pakistan, when the civil and military were on the same table, it saw the implementation of the National Action Plan in letter and spirit by both the military and civil leadership. Such coordinated efforts led to effectively combating the terrorist elements in the country. According to the US Institute of Peace Special Report by Shuja Nawaz, governance would be strengthened with better coordination and collaboration between civil institutions and the military. Similarly, the cooperative relations between the two entities legitimize the state’s authority, both domestically and internationally. So, when both the civil and military actors are on a single page, they effectively enhance governance and democratic processes, restoring the confidence of the general public in state institutions.
B-Addressing External Threats
- Dealing with Border Insecurity Threats from India
Good relations between civil and military are necessary to have amicable ties with India. Effective coordination between the two entities can help Pakistan peacefully resolve its border conflicts with India that arise from time to time. Purely leaving the border issue in the military hands can result in border skirmishes turning into wars due to the military’s aggressive approach, so prudent policies and shared decision-making can help resolve the crisis that arises from time to time. Civil-military coordination helps diplomatic initiatives align with national security objectives, making them well-calculated in terms of state interests. In Pakistan, where the military has an important role in foreign policy and national security, it becomes imperative for the two entities to cooperate as the talks or negotiations supported by both of them are more likely to bring fruitful results. Moreover, as both India and Pakistan comprise nuclear nukes, it becomes essential to have coordination between civil and military to prevent the unauthorized use of nuclear bombs and reduce the chances of accidental or inadvertent use of these destructive items. The establishment of Nuclear Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs), such as pre-notification of ballistic missile tests and the establishment of hotlines between the Director General Military Operations (DGMOs) on both sides, is an effort emerging from both the civil and military leadership. So, there is always a need of balanced civil-military relations to lead to balanced relations between Pakistan and India.
- Responding effectively to the Threats emanating from Afghanistan:
Pakistan shares a 2640km long border with Afghanistan, which has been a source of tension and security concern for a long time. The border is marked by illegal crossings, smuggling, and movement of militants. There is a need for civil-military coordination to devise policies and plans of action that help discourage smuggling and illegal crossing, along with a strict crackdown on the militants in the vicinity of the border. Operations like Zarb-e-Azab and Rad-ul-Fasad are reflections of civil-military cooperation aimed at annihilating the safe havens for militants near the border region. Moreover, a strong civil-military relationship is necessary to align the diplomatic efforts of the country with its security objectives. For instance, Pakistan played an important role in the successful completion of the US-Taliban peace talks, also known as the Doha Agreement 2020. In these talks, Pakistan ensured that its diplomatic efforts were also aligned with its security concerns. The recent decision to repatriate refugees back to Afghanistan is another instance reflecting civil-military consensus to crush the terrorist elements in the country, as many among them fell into the hands of terrorist outfits and are used against Pakistan. In short, balanced civil-military relations in Pakistan are necessary to counter threats emerging from Afghanistan and ensure peaceful relations with the country.
- Tackling Cyber Security Threats
With the progress in the internet and technology, cyber security threats have opened technological war fronts for countries, including Pakistan. According to a report by Comparitech (a UK-based firm) of 2019, Pakistan was ranked 7th worst country in terms of cyber security. Though Pakistan has successfully devised its National Cyber Security Policy in 2021, analysts link its implementation to active coordination between the civil and military leadership. It will enable both institutions to explore areas of cooperation by utilizing the on-disposal institutions to check the vulnerabilities arising from unauthorized and unregulated use of social media platforms by citizens, sometimes propagating misinformation, propaganda, defamation campaigns, credit card frauds, phishing, malware attacks, cyberespionage, cyber theft, identity theft and Distributed Denial of Service. Pakistan’s National Internal Security Policy (NISP) has given heed to the issue of cyber threats and emphasized the need for a civil-military command for inter and intra-agency coordination. Neighbouring states such as India and Bangladesh have been allocating budget and manpower to the IT sector, including cooperation between the civil and military sectors in cyberspace for a coordinated response. Organizations, like Special Communication Organization (SCO). Pakistan’s National Response Center for Cybercrime (NR3C) mixes CERTs from both the civil and military sectors to underscore the need for a more holistic response. So, there is a need for civil-military leadership to join hands to tackle the menace of cyber warfare.
- Combating Cross-Border Terrorism
To address cross-border terrorism, civil-military relations are crucial in tackling the menace by interacting with border states- affected by the cross-border movement of militants- by signing treaties and committing to joint exercises to eradicate the issue. Civil leadership takes the responsibility of diplomatic initiatives and negotiations with the affected states while the military assures security guarantees and readiness to fight the evil. Civilian diplomacy helps to formulate treaties and joint agreements to eradicate cross-border terrorism while military-to-military contacts maintain communication channels and defuse tensions. For instance, under the umbrella of SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure, joint military drills and intelligence sharing among member states are done to collectively eradicate the evil of cross-border terrorism. Similarly, Pakistan has also signed several agreements with Iran to deal with cross-border terrorism through civil leadership, and military-to-military contact has also been in place to put a hold on cross-border terrorism from Iran to Pakistan and vice versa. Therefore, to effectively curb the evil of terrorism, there is a strong need for a civil-military nexus to cooperate and coordinate to achieve national goals of security and stability.
What role a stable and secure Pakistan can play in South Asia
By addressing the internal and external threats posed, Pakistan can bring security and stability to its territory. This security has broader outcomes for the region, too, given Pakistan’s strategic location, large population, nuclear capabilities, and emerging economic potential. In short, Pakistan plays a pivotal role in shaping the regional dynamics. Below is a brief account of the possible outcomes of a stable Pakistan in South Asia.
- Peacefully Resolving the Kashmir Dispute
A stable and secure Pakistan, committed to diplomatic solutions, can help avert the chances of military skirmishes and conflicts as erupted in the past. All international organizations, and regional powers wish a peaceful Pakistan, having the inclination towards dialogue to resolve its outstanding issues. A stable Pakistan is less likely to engage in aggressive military posturing and more likely to engage in negotiations and ceasefire agreements, as both countries did in February 2021, by using a joint statement regarding strict adherence to ceasefire lines. Similarly, international organizations, like the UN, have repeatedly urged both sides to adopt restrain and prevent resorting to intensive clashes, and have offered their good offices to solve the long-standing amicably in line with the UN resolutions.
- Maintaining Nuclear Deterrence and Stability
Security and stability in Pakistan ensure that the nuclear nukes are in responsible hands. It helps in the effective management of nuclear arsenals and reduces the risk of nuclear escalation, ensuring that the country adheres to international norms regarding nuclear stability. The United Nations, along with the US, has always emphasized the need for a stable Pakistan to prevent nuclear assets from getting into the hands of extremists and terrorists in the country. These institutions have stressed the need to bring internal stability to the country by combating terrorism and extremism, apart from other threats. In the 2001-02 military standoff between India and Pakistan, all international organizations and big powers called for restraint on both sides to avoid the possible threat of a nuclear war, which endangered the entire region. So, a stable and secure Pakistan is not only in the best interests of its own people, but also the entire South Asia has stakes in it.
- Facilitating Economic Corridors and Regional Connectivity
Stability in Pakistan is crucial to making regional economic initiatives successful. Economic initiatives, like the Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), are one such multi-faceted project that can bring regional connectivity and regional prosperity. According to President Jinping, “The planning and layout of the Economic Corridor should cover other parts of Pakistan as well so that the fruits of its development will reach both all the people in Pakistan and the people of other countries in our region.” However, all the conditions for this project’s success lie in safety and stability, not only in its execution phase but also in the post-completion phase. The need for security and stability in Pakistan was re-emphasized by China after the killing of 5 engineers in March 2024 in the KPK province of Pakistan.
- Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Diplomatic Relations
A stable Pakistan is more likely to play a crucial and leading role in regional politics through regional organizations like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, the Shanghai Corporation Organization, and the Economic Cooperation Organization. It can push for greater collaboration and cooperation among member states in security, economic development, and cultural exchanges. This collaboration is necessary for addressing shared challenges, such as climate change, cross-border terrorism, narcotics smuggling and human trafficking. For instance, Pakistan, as Chair of the Group of G77 and China, led the initiative in the Conference of Parties (COP) 27 meeting to launch a Loss and Damage Fund for developing and underdeveloped nations, which was approved. Later on, the agreement on its operationalization was finalized in COP 28. In short, Pakistan’s security and stability guarantee its crucial role in addressing shared issues of the region on regional and international forums.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, civil-military pragmatic relationships are crucial to combat internal threats, such as terrorism, nuclear security and Balochistan’s insurgency, and external threats, such as threats from India, threats from Afghanistan, and cyber security threats. It will bring peace and stability to the country, which has favourable outcomes for the whole South Asian region as a stable and secure Pakistan will minimize the chances of military adventures in the case of Kashmir, reduce the possibility of nuclear instability, and promote regional connectivity initiatives, not only for its own people but also for the benefit of all South Asians. In a word, a stable, secure, prosperous Pakistan means a stable, secure, prosperous South Asia.
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