SOLDIERS AND NOT CIVILIANS ARE IN CHARGE IN PAKISTAN

SOLDIERS AND NOT CIVILIANS ARE IN CHARGE IN PAKISTAN

 ARMED FORCES WERE FORMED IN 1947 WHEN PAKISTAN BECAME INDEPENDENT FROM THE BRITISH EMPIRE.^[8] SINCE THEN, THE ARMED FORCES HAVE PLAYED A DECISIVE ROLE IN THE MODERN HISTORY OF PAKISTAN, FIGHTING MAJOR WARS WITH INDIA IN 1947, 1965 AND 1971, AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SEIZING CONTROL OF THE CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT TO RESTORE ORDER IN THE COUNTRY.^[8] THE NEED FOR BORDER MANAGEMENT LED TO THE CREATION OF PARAMILITARY FORCES TO DEAL WITH CIVIL UNREST IN THE NORTH-WEST AND SECURITY OF BORDER AREAS IN PUNJAB AND SINDH BY PARAMILITARY TROOPS. IN 2017, PER IISS, THE MILITARY HAD APPROXIMATELY 653,800 ACTIVE PERSONNEL IN THE ARMED FORCES, INCLUDING 12,000-15,000 PERSONNEL IN THE STRATEGIC PLANS DIVISION FORCES AND 282,000 ACTIVE PERSONNEL IN THE PARAMILITARY FORCES.^[9] THE ARMED FORCES HAVE A LARGE POOL OF VOLUNTEERS SO CONSCRIPTION HAS NEVER BEEN NEEDED, THOUGH THE PAKISTANI CONSTITUTION AND SUPPLEMENTARY LEGISLATION ALLOW FOR CONSCRIPTION IN A STATE OF WAR.^[10]

THE PAKISTAN ARMED FORCES ARE THE BEST-ORGANIZED INSTITUTION IN PAKISTAN, AND ARE HIGHLY RESPECTED IN CIVIL SOCIETY.^[11] SINCE THE FOUNDING OF PAKISTAN, THE MILITARY HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN HOLDING THE STATE TOGETHER, PROMOTING A FEELING OF NATIONHOOD AND PROVIDING A BASTION OF SELFLESS SERVICE.^[12] IN ADDITION, THE PAKISTAN ARMED FORCES ARE THE LARGEST CONTRIBUTORS TO UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING EFFORTS, WITH MORE THAN 10,000 PERSONNEL DEPLOYED OVERSEAS IN 2007.^[13] OTHER FOREIGN DEPLOYMENTS HAVE CONSISTED OF PAKISTANI MILITARY PERSONNEL SERVING AS MILITARY ADVISERS IN AFRICAN AND ARAB COUNTRIES. THE PAKISTANI MILITARY HAS MAINTAINED COMBAT DIVISIONS AND BRIGADE-STRENGTH PRESENCES IN SOME OF THE ARAB COUNTRIES DURING THE ARAB–ISRAELI WARS, AIDED THE COALITION FORCES IN THE FIRST GULF WAR, AND TOOK PART IN THE SOMALI AND BOSNIAN CONFLICTS.