Pakistan Army is highly respected and rightly so, but when in politics they lose it. Hence, they should keep out.Yes initially, sweets are distributed but then they are cursed.
This is a direct consequence of inheriting a disproportionally bigger army than our population and other resources in 1947. The British Army had more representation from what is now Pakistan. In order to continue paying for it we have run our country into the ground.
To elaborate further, The British comissioned soldiers in the army by dividing the ethnical groups in the sub-continent into martial and non-martial races. The Pashtuns and the Punjabis from what is now Pakistan had the highest representation.
In 1947, Pakistan inherited (approximated figures) 21% of the population, 17% of the revenue but more than 30% of the military. Under the agreement, Pakistan got 30% of the army, 40% of the Navy and 20% of the Air Force.
70% of the first Pakistani budget was allocated to pay salaries for military personnel.
I have disagreements with Hussain Haqqani, but I would like to pull out a very interesting quote from his book.
"Pakistan was not like other countries that raise an army to deal with threats they face; it had inherited a large army that needed a threat if it was to be maintained."
His analysis is interesting in the sense that it is true. However, I am a structural realist when it comes to International Relations Theory, and I believe the only way countries can survive is to maximise military power. However when that comes at the expense of economic growth and social development, it is more damaging than it is beneficial.
Economic growth is hampered in states that fail to implement a sustainable form of government and an open market. Military growth may actually increase growth if it takes the form of weapons industry, but in some cases like Pakistan's, that does not happen.
It takes an open market, and 4-5% growth over a period of 25 to 30 years to transform a state. Pakistan never really got that because of political chaos and Foreign investment never really took off. On the contrary, India sky rocketed after 1991.
