Who Controls Pakistan’s Security Forces?
Pakistan’s civilian government must gain more security expertise, and strengthen oversight and coordination among its agencies to counter the military’s role in internal counterinsurgency policy.
![297](/sites/default/files/styles/image_with_caption/public/SR%20297.jpg?itok=V0I9mGEV)
Summary
- Internal militancy and insurgency are the immediate threats to Pakistan’s security.
- Pakistan’s polity is fractured and dysfunctional, allowing the military to assert greater control over Pakistan’s response to this growing internal threat.
- Civilian authorities have missed numerous opportunities to assert control over security matters. Miscalculation by the current civilian government in its attempt in 2008 to exert control over the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) directorate soured civil-military relations at a time when the new army chief favored keeping the army out of politics.
- The military’s interests are expanding to newer sectors, including economic policymaking, since a shrinking economy could hurt military interests and lifestyles.
- An opportunity to improve security sector governance exists in the proposed National Counter Terrorism Authority, which the government has unduly delayed.