Civil-Military Relations in Pakistan and the Baluchistan Conflict

Abstract

This article analyzes the differences between civilians’ and soldiers’ approach to the solutions of ethnic conflicts through the Baluchistan conflict, an important domestic problem in Pakistan during the Musharraf military regime and Zardari civilian regime. The findings show that the military and military-origined politicians preferred to solve the Baluchistan conflict through military measures whereas politically-weak civilians looked at the conflict through a wider perspective. The methodological differences between these groups will be explained with the military activism perspective which argues that soldiers are more war-prone than civilians because of institutional and personal interests as well as military-mindset.

Keywords

Pakistan, Baluchistan Conflict, Military Activism, Civil-Military Relations, Ethnic Conflict

Citation

Ülgül, Murat, “Civil-Military Relations in Pakistan and the Baluchistan Conflict”, International Relations, Volume 13, Issue 50, 2016, pp. 59-75.

Affiliations

• Murat ÜLGÜL, Dr., Department of International Relations, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Karadeniz Technical University