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Pakistan
The Military
Another significant aspect of Pakistan's political legacy is
its military forces and, in particular, the role of the largest
of these forces, the army (see Role and Structure of the Security
Forces , ch. 5). The military remains one of the country's most
cohesive national institutions. Since independence it has oscillated
between indirect and direct political control, remaining a major
power. The military's sense of mission in defending and preserving
the Islamic state of Pakistan has always been strong. For Muslim
members of the British Indian Army, the transfer of loyalties
from the colonial to the ideological state was not difficult.
Successors to the historical legacy of the Muslim armies of the
once powerful Mughal Empire, Muslim soldiers could relate to a
new role of protecting the faith and the state embodied in Pakistan.
The military also provided alternative political leadership in
times of crisis. Military regimes in Pakistan have legitimated
their actions by the doctrine of necessity, stepping in temporarily
when political crises have reached a deadlock and threatened the
state (see Constitutional Basis and Missions , ch. 5).
Data as of April 1994
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