Overview

Pakistan Army is the most organised, powerful and influential institution in the country. It proclaims to protect not only the territorial frontiers of the state but the very ideology of the nation as well. The institution, through various means and mechanisms, controls Grand National Narrative (GNN) in Pakistan and strongly resists any attempt on part of other stakeholders to introduce changes having potential to weaken its hold in the system. It has fairly penetrated almost all sectors of Pakistani society and institutions of any significance including mass-media and academia. Its linkages with various indigenous extremist/terrorist groups is well-known and documented. Despite a severe blowback at home in the form of deadly terror strikes, the army refuses to discontinue its policy of using terror outfits as strategic assets to achieve foreign policy objectives. Against this background, the study traces the evolution of army, from scratch to the most potent force, and critically analyses the institution and its role in the country.

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9789386288837

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Reviews

This is a comprehensive study of army as an institution in Pakistan. The book uses a theoretical framework of civil-military relations and seeks to situate the core of Pakistan military within this framework. It also explains the lacunae in the theory in explaining certain aspects of the centres of the power with the military institutions. Through the course of the study the author also analyses how the army has become an all pervasive institution within Pakistan and how it shapes the political narrative. Finally the book clearly highlights the larger thinking of the Pakistan army which considers itself as the only organised institution capable of attending to the internal and external security concerns of Pakistan unlike the civilian political class which is infested by allegations of corruption and lack of political cohesion and stability. It will be extremely valuable contribution to the academic literature on Pakistan. -- Prof. Uma Singh (SIS, JNU) The Pakistan army is an extremely important institution central to the evolution and orientation of the country and to political relations in the region. Any study of its development, especially one from across the border, should be a welcome work of scholarship. It should be read critically by all those interested in the future of the subcontinent. -- Prof. Anjum Altaf (Former Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, LUMS, PakistanAshish Shukla's book on Pakistan Army is a must read for all followers of Pakistan politics. It gives an insight into an Indian scholar's perception of the most powerful institution in that country. It meticulously builds into the evolution of Pakistan Army, it's command and control and its character. It traces the relation between the Army and the religion and delves into the corporate interests on the institution, in the process finding out major causes of military coups. An interesting and useful discourse, with potential to generate academic debate. -- Prof. Savita Pande (SIS, JNU) Army's predominance and influence in Pakistan is well-known and documented. However, only few scholars made attempts to study and analyse the institution per se. Ashish Shukla's work is a welcome one which not only fills the existing literature gap, but offers a refined Indian perspective on the subject. It is a must read for all those who want to understand the civil-military dynamics in Pakistan. -- Prof. Rajesh Kharat (SIS, JNU)It is a useful account for understanding the civil military contestation for power in Pakistan which is a defining feature of the state. The author deals with the issues affecting Pakistan with critical sympathy, which is absent in many Pakistan watchers in India, especially among younger scholars of our time. -- Dr. Ashok Behuria (Senior Research Fellow, IDSA)Ashish Shukla is one of the very few scholars of his generation with an in-depth understanding of the Pakistan army. Well-researched, perceptive and lucidly written, this book is a must read for all Pakistan watchers, including academics and policy makers. Shukla's book offers insightful answers to several unanswered questions about the Pakistan army. -- Prof. Happymon Jacob (SIS, JNU)A very convincing and persuasive narrative about the most dominant institution of Pakistan. There are many well-known books on Pakistan army, but few by Indians. This book emphasises on Pakistan army's India-centric worldview and the role of United States in sustaining this institution. A must read for those interested in South Asian affairs. -- Prof. Sanjay Pandey (SIS, JNU)

Author Information

Ashish Shukla is a Research Fellow at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), New Delhi. Prior to joining ICWA, he was associated with the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), New Delhi. He received his M.Phil. and Ph.D. from the Centre for South Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. His area of interest and expertise lies in studies related to South Asia with special emphasis on Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

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