BETWEEN DEMOCRACY AND SECURITY: THE MILITARY’S ROLE IN PAK-US RELATIONS (2008-2013)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/a3gxxb49Keywords:
Democracy, Foreign Policy, Military, Pak-US Relations, War on TerrorAbstract
This study examines the role of Pakistan's military in shaping Pakistan–United States relations during the period 2008–2013, a phase characterized by democratic governance in Pakistan alongside significant security and foreign policy challenges. Despite the transition to civilian rule after the 2008 general elections, the military remained a dominant actor in managing key aspects of bilateral relations, particularly those related to counterterrorism, the War on Terror, intelligence cooperation, Afghanistan, and national security. Major events—including the Kerry–Lugar–Berman Act, the Raymond Davis incident, the Abbottabad operation, the Salala attack, and the reopening of NATO supply routes—highlighted the military's influence over strategic decision-making. Using qualitative analysis based on primary and secondary sources, this study argues that while civilian institutions formally conducted diplomacy, the military exercised substantial influence over Pakistan's security-oriented foreign policy toward the United States. The findings demonstrate that civil–military dynamics significantly shaped the direction, continuity, and constraints of Pakistan–US relations during 2008–2013.
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