If someone understands the Urdu language, this question was the focus of the interview of PM Imran Khan.
I have seen people say that the Pakistani government is not strong enough because many governmental decisions are taken by the Pakistani army.
Says who?
As far as I observed this narrative is prevalent among:
Group #1. Indian media and the Indian establishment.
Group #2. Pakistani dissidents who are living abroad and cooperating with the Indian establishment.
Group #3. Pakistani opposition who are now disturbed by numerous corruption charges including money laundering, possessing wealth more than income, fake bank accounts, and so on.
I guess, what these people say doesn't hold much water as far as Pakistan is concerned.
Why do the people consider the involvement of the military not good?
According to Western democracy, the military is considered a state institution under the civilian government. According to western democracy, the military is only there to assist the civilian government.
This concept doesn't always work in all parts of the world. Especially, in the poor and corrupt countries, where politicians embezzle/mishandle/mismanage public funds or earn illicit money or acquire wealth by corruption, they seem not to possess the moral authority to lead a highly efficient and professional institution like the military. So, what they do is, they keep the Military weak and in chaos on purpose.
This doesn't work in Pakistan for social, historical, and structural reasons. Firstly, because of Pakistan's feudal society, the military is a very respected organization. Secondly, because of the asset sharing during the partition of India, the Pakistan Military has been a very powerful organization from the beginning. Thirdly, due to the constant conflict with India, Pakistan's sovereignty depends on a powerful military.
Why do people say the Pakistani government has failed because the military is interfering with politics?
Again, this depends on who is saying.
Group #1 has three problems:
- Pakistan was created by splitting India. The split of India is considered as a sad history for Hindus living in India. Even to date, there are movements in India called "Akhand Bharat" aiming at the reunification of India. During the independence of India, Hindus wanted to keep the country in one piece because (a) India is considered as a Goddess in Hinduism, (b) they knew that if India exists in one piece, Hindus will always remain as a majority.
- RSS and the idea of Akhand Bharat
- Akhand Bharat's next step is to take PoK: Ram Madhav
- Time not far when India will become Akhand Bharat, claims Karnataka BJP MP
Muslims wanted a separate homeland because under British rule Hindus were dominating Muslims and they were either considered as invaders or inferior beings as lower caste Hindus took refuge in Islam to avoid the persecution of upper-caste Hindus.
- Pakistan and India have conflicts of interest in the region called Kashmir. Firstly, Kashmir is a disputed territory between Pakistan and India. Secondly, all the important rivers run through Kashmir.
- The Kashmir conflict in under 4 minutes
- India Threatens a New Weapon Against Pakistan: Water
- Are India and Pakistan on the Verge of a Water War?
- Pakistan doesn't agree with India and the American concept of submitting to India as the leader of South Asia. I.e. a hegemon. The only country that doesn't accept Indian leadership in South Asia is Pakistan. All other countries are either controlled or dominated by India through various techniques including political/military threats or by instating stooge governments.
- Pakistan only hurdle to Indian 'hegemony' in South Asia: Sartaj Aziz
- India's Quest for Hegemony in the Indian Ocean
- India’s hegemonic aspirations a threat for Pakistan: Qureshi
Therefore, keeping Pakistan weak is one of the tactics India pursues to keep things smooth for them. One of the techniques India use is to talk badly about Pakistan's Military. India knows that Pakistan Amy is the most powerful organization in the country. If the Pakistan Military is kept weak, Pakistan as a country will be automatically kept weak.
Here are some Indian threats:
- Our target should be to divide Pakistan into 4 parts: Subramanian Swamy
- Divide Pakistan into 3 parts and merge PoK with India: Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev
- Pakistan can get split into 5-6 parts: RSS leader
The following are some routine Indian propaganda:
- Pakistan Army tightens grip on country as Imran Khan’s popularity wanes
- Every Assassination Makes the Army’s Grip Over Pakistan Tighter and More Lethal
- Pakistan Army Flooding Top Pak Bureaucratic Posts; Wants To Make Imran Fall Guy For Covid?
Group #2's problem is they have their own interpretation of an ideal society and state. When they went forward to propagate their ideas, their interests somehow converges with Group#1 as both of the groups want the military under the civilian rule. Surprisingly, they don't have anything to say against or don't have any solution to the corruption and mismanagement of the civilian politicians.
- Pakistani judiciary has acted as a subsidiary of the military: Hussain Haqqani
- Military, Inc.: Inside Pakistan's Military Economy
- MARIA RASHID: Dying to Serve Militarism, Affect, and the Politics of Sacrifice in the Pakistan Army
- Tarek Fatah calls Imran Khan 'fair and lovely military pappu'
- Pak Army, ISI planning to declare Karachi federal territory with China’s support: MQM leader Altaf Hussain
Group#3 is the most interesting and contradicting group. Firstly, most of these people came to politics with direct recruitment or backdoor negotiation with the military. Secondly, they are corrupt without any question. Thirdly, unlike other countries, Pakistan's central intelligence is run by the military. As a result, all the information about political corruption first comes to the military. So, when these people talk about democracy and the wellbeing of the country, they sound like a laughing stock.