Islamabad: Traditionally the military has been the strongest institution in Pakistan playing a pivotal role in its destiny.
Weak state institutions, geostrategic circumstances, especially the regional role of the US and adversarial relations with India have placed the army in a dominant role.
During the last eight years under President Pervez Musharraf, the army's involvement in civilian affairs has given rise to growing resentment in the society. The people want the army to focus on its profession.
The army's future role would depend on the outcome of the February 18 elections and the policies of army chief General Ashfaq Kiyani. Musharraf's diminishing popularity will hamper his attempt to leverage his position by reviving the concept of "troika" - power shared among the president, prime minister and the army chief. If the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid wins the majority, the military's involvement in state affairs will continue.
If the Pakistan Peoples Party and the PML-Nawaz come to power, they would assert themselves and seek to be more autonomous. In the longer term, it is important that political parties become more democratic. Otherwise the army will continue to dominate.
The self-created role of the army as the guardian of the nation's territorial integrity and its ideological frontiers may have to change in due course. The Pentagon will continue to maintain and strengthen its relationship with Pakistan's military for fighting the war on terror. That way the army's importance will be significant at the global level.
- Lt General (retired) Talat Masood is a leading defence and politicalanalyst based in Islamabad
