Pakistan military

Amid a crackdown on his party, the former cricketer turned Islamist politician is on the back foot.

There is a powerful surge of public anger against the military's political interference. But Pakistan's civilian politicians are too caught up in their personal feuds to capitalize on the movement.

Chaos erupted after Imran Khan's arrest. His release brought an uneasy calm, but the stage is set for a more serious clash.

The arrests followed mob attacks on government buildings, military installations, and public places in response to Khan’s arrest on Tuesday.

The last year has been been a microcosm of Pakistan’s seven decades of dysfunction, now culminating in ambiguity over the most fundamental of democratic exercises: holding an election. 

“If India and Pakistan keep emotions out of it and approach their problems logically, there is room for advancing the relationship.”

He ruled Pakistan through the first six years of the US military operations in Afghanistan, tensions with India, a nuclear proliferation scandal and mounting Islamic extremism at home.

Will the Pakistan military under Gen. Asim Munir favor peace talks with the TTP, or a return to military operations?

“If Gen. Munir keeps Lt. Gen. Nadeem Anjum on in the post of DG-ISI, then it could signal warmer ties with the U.S.”

The civilian leadership seems to have realized that merit and seniority rather than political considerations should determine the selection of the army chief.

Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff sought to ensure that the military confined itself to the role defined for it under the constitution.