ABSTRACT
The second chapter analyzes the distinctive evolution of Pakistan’s military-centric national security state approach during the Cold War. After Independence in 1947, Pakistan perceived external threats, whether real or not, from neighbouring countries such as India that played a major role in the formulation of this security approach in which military interests were prioritized over nation building. The military consolidated power in the 1950s and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in 1970s, as primary actors in the foreign and security policies as well as the domestic politics of the country. The Pakistani military also established business conglomerates to act more independently during the Cold War. The chapter finds some of the key features and ideas characterizing Pakistan’s national security state model that not only complied almost perfectly with the American model of national security state but established its own unique security approach in which the Pakistani military elite have maintained a dominant position in state affairs. Nonetheless, the military presented a range of obstacles to political parties or leaders that wanted to change direction of Pakistan’s national security state.
