ABSTRACT
Torn between democracy and dictatorship, and political instability since independence in 1947, Pakistan may have entered a new phase of civil-military balance triggered by several internal and external monumental changes, including: the first-ever democratic transition, evolution of civil and military institutions, consensus on cleaning up both the militant and political violence, and recent global shifts in power dynamics. However, this new era of cordial relations between the civilian regime and military establishment on foreign, defence and internal policies is not without its criticism.1 There are strong voices that the military has covertly taken over the leash of power in a ‘soft coup’ following the anti-government protests by PTI against the alleged rigging in 2013 elections.2 Rumours have majorly sparked, even as the language of both civil and military leaders has converged on areas of national interest that were previously hotly contested. One such issue is fixing Karachi. However, beyond the notion of ‘soft coup’ and the traditionally held views about civil-military conflict, it is also interesting to note that both civil-political and the military institutions have undergone significant structural and psychological changes, which seem to be paving the way for a new civil-military partnership, and collaborations on key strategic economic and political policies. This chapter points to such noticeable shifts that the Pakistani military and the ruling party, the PML-N, have undergone over the past decade or more, and the drivers behind these changes. Within this context, various areas of convergence between the civilian and military establishments are assessed, and the future course of politics in the country envisioned.
