Pakistan Studies

Social Issues in Pakistan

M Sair Ahmed (2217143)

BSSS 2B

Military Industrial Complex

 and Pakistan
The Military Industrial Complex (MIC) is a term used to describe the intricate relationship
between a country's military, government, and the defense industry. In the United States, the
MIC has played a significant role in shaping its foreign policy and international affairs. This
essay explores the impact of the MIC on Pakistan and the factors that enabled the military
establishment to exert a status quo, examining how Pakistan's foreign and domestic policy
constants, such as the Kashmir issue and foreign aid, have contributed to the growth of the MIC's
influence within the country. Furthermore, it investigates the consequences of this influence on
Pakistan's political stability and societal well-being, including the rise in terrorism and other
social detriments.

Understanding the Military Industrial Complex:

The MIC is the nexus of the defense industry, military, and government that aims to maintain
and expand the defense capabilities of a nation. The term was first coined by President
Eisenhower’s final address in 1961 where he said ““we must guard against the acquisition of
unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex.”

The United States, for instance, has a robust MIC that heavily influences its foreign policy
decisions. Arms manufacturing is one of the largest revenue generators for the United States,
making it crucial for the nation to maintain an environment conducive to weapons sales.
Consequently, the U.S. often becomes involved in conflicts around the globe, ensuring that its
defense industry continues to prosper. The latest example of this is the ongoing Russia-Ukraine
conflict, where the US recently pledged $2.6 billion in military aid and equipment to Ukraine.
The same approach has been carried out by the US for a considerable amount of time now in
numerous regions around the world, including Pakistan.

Religious and Cultural Factors: Being one of the two nations in the world founded upon a
religious ideology, Pakistan’s struggle for independence and the events that followed made it all
so important for the ‘Promised Land’ of the Muslims of the subcontinent to survive and prosper.
The largest migration in history saw 1.5 million people switching countries, a million Muslim
lives lost and further more displaced. Thus, to ensure the survival and sovereignty of the new
country, the creation of a strong military force was imperative. Furthermore, people living within
the boundaries of Pakistan have had a culture of being relatively combatant throughout history,
engaging in armed conflict to defend the integrity of their lands and many including the Pathans
and Rajputs, were also recognized by the British as ‘martial castes’ i.e. suitable for combat. For
these reasons, religious and military, Pakistan has been no stranger to military advancements and
subsequent weapon acquisitions of any kind.

Pakistan's Foreign Policy and the MIC:

Pakistan's foreign policy constants, such as the long-standing Kashmir dispute with India and its
reliance on foreign aid, have significantly contributed to the growth of the MIC's influence in the
country. Kashmir has been the bone of contention and primary cause of conflict with our
neighbors in the east, India. Pakistan has fought 4 wars in 1948, 1965, 1971 and 1999
respectively with India over the issue of Kashmir and has had many skirmishes taking place time
to time, making it a highly volatile region. This has in turn led to the Indo-Pak border which
spans 2,300 km, being the most militarized zone in the world and in order to do that, both
countries looked up to nations like China and US to help them militarily. Secondly, the foreign
aid received from countries like the United States, often in the form of military assistance,
further exacerbates the situation, as it encourages Pakistan to prioritize its defense spending over
other essential sectors such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure development. This aid, if
in the form of direct payments, usually doesn’t have any scrutiny and is subject to corruption.
This military has been utilized by the military establishment and allowed them to build a military
based enterprise that covers many important economic sectors, from construction to agriculture
and real estate.

Pakistan’s Domestic Policy:

In light of our animosity with neighboring states, the state has a perfect justification to
compromise other important sectors such as education, healthcare and social welfare over
military, which receives a massive 17.5% of the total federal budget allocation and continues to
thrive, at the same time when other sectors of the country decline.

Military-Civilian Imbalance and the MIC:

The MIC's influence in Pakistan has contributed to the growing power of the military over the
civilian establishment. The military has played a pivotal role in the nation's politics, often taking
over power through coups and dictating policy decisions. The military's dominance has
undermined the civilian government's authority, resulting in weak governance and limited
democratic growth. This power imbalance perpetuates a cycle wherein the military's interests
supersede those of the civilian population, which in turn further strengthens the MIC's grip on
the country.

The first instance that saw the MIC help the military cement its role on the country was during
the 1965 war. A drastic fate was averted as Pakistan was on the back foot when the ceasefire was
announced. However, the efforts to defend Lahore and the heroics in Chawinda sector were
highlighted and were used to portray a Pakistani victory. The weapons used in this war included
Patton tanks, M-1 Garand rifles; all supplied by America, none of it locally produced, despite the
Pakistan Ordinance Factory being established in 1951. This is turn, led to a glorification of the
army and set a positive public sentiment towards military rule.

Pakistan's involvement in the Afghan Miracle and the War on Terror has had profound
implications for the country. The Afghan Miracle refers to the covert operation carried out by the
United States, Pakistan, and other allies to support the Afghan Mujahideen in their fight against
the Soviet Union during the 1980s. Pakistan acting as the strategic partner for US in the region,
was provided with billions in military aid along with equipment such as F-16s, tanks etc. During
this period, Pakistan’s economy boomed at a staggering 8% and it received the most aid in that
period bar Egypt. The operation aimed to contain the spread of communism and weaken the
Soviet Union. This involvement with the Mujahideen, however, had lasting consequences as it
led to the emergence of various extremist groups in the region. Firstly, it caused a massive
demographic imbalance as Pakistan received an influx of Afghan refugees, the most in a single
event in history. This caused rise in communal tensions in areas of Balochistan and Sindh, like
Quetta, where the ethnic Baloch population was reduced to a minority. Secondly, it caused a very
perilous arms culture within the country ‘Kalashinkov culture’ where arms used in the war made
their way through the North of Pakistan to elsewhere and was used to incite communal violence.
The effects of this culture were prevalent in Karachi during communal riots, and this also
desensitized the public to the use of weapons. On top of this, drug usage shot up as opium and
heroin crept in with the refugees. It is also reported that former heads of Pakistani agencies were
involved and benefitted off the drug trade which has affected 67 million people in Pakistan to
date.

Furthermore, the War on Terror, initiated after the 9/11 attacks in the United States, further
embroiled Pakistan in regional conflicts, as it became a key ally in the fight against terrorism.
The U.S. provided significant military and financial aid to Pakistan during this period, further
deepening the MIC's influence in the country. Pakistan as a result, faced stern opposition from
the very Talibans they supported during the Afghan Miracle, who accused them to facilitate US
forces against them. The very Taliban leaders were brought up in Pakistan were now against the
nation. This led to a period of domestic instability as terrorism was on the rise. The country
became more intolerant and resources had to be diverted to counter the insurgencies within the
country. Examples of these include the operation is Swat, the Lal Masjid Operation, Operation
Zarb e Azb in the FATA region. The cost of this was paid in the form of bombings and suicide
attacks, along with the most devastating day in the country’s history on December 16 th, 2016,
where over 150 students, staff and civilians lost their lives in a terrorist attack on APS Peshawar,
orchestrated by the Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan in response to the operations by the Pakistan
Army.

The harsh reality of the situation is that, during this tenure, military advancements were still
ongoing. This included the manufacture of JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, testing of intercontinental
ballistic missiles while the country suffered, and is still suffering.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the Military Industrial Complex has had a profound impact on Pakistan, shaping
its foreign policy and domestic priorities. The nation's involvement in regional conflicts and its
reliance on foreign aid have contributed to the MIC's growing influence. This has led to a power
imbalance between the military and civilian establishments, negatively affecting the country's
political stability and democratic growth.
Pakistan's participation in the Afghan Miracle and the War on Terror, driven in part by the MIC,
has had significant consequences, including the rise of terrorism and drug use within its borders.
These challenges have further exacerbated the nation's political instability and hindered its ability
to effectively address its problems.

To counter the MIC's influence and work towards a more stable and prosperous future, Pakistan
must focus on strengthening its democratic institutions, ensuring civilian control over the
military, and prioritizing the welfare of its citizens. Additionally, addressing regional conflicts
through diplomacy and dialogue, rather than relying on military force, can help to diminish the
MIC's control and create a more peaceful and stable environment for the nation and its people.

The world is heading for a new direction in terms of how order is established. US dominance is
being challenged (Russia-Ukraine conflict and stabilization of Middle East) and it may no longer
be able to carry out its MIC as effectively as it did before.

With the recent developments in Pakistan, and those in the past year, more people are becoming
aware of the factors that have led to the status quo in Pakistan.

With every passing day and new realizations, we can hope for a better future.

References:
 Wikipedia contributors. (2023). Pakistan Ordnance Factories. Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan_Ordnance_Factories
 Samo, S. H. (2021, May 24). Negative Impacts Of Soviet-Afghan War On Pakistan | The
Authentic Post. The Authentic Post. https://theauthenticpost.com/negative-impacts-of-
soviet-afghan-war-on-pakistan/
 Amin, Q. (2018, March 18). What was the equipment used by Pakistan in 1965 war?

[Online forum post]. Pakistan Defence. https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/what-was-the-

equipment-used-by-pakistan-in-1965-war.546992/page-2

 Hafeez, Q. T. A. (2018). China’s Role in 1965 Indo-Pak War. Modern Diplomacy.

https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2018/09/27/chinas-role-in-1965-indo-pak-war/