Page 36 - Military Technology 12/2018

34 · MT 12/2018 Features

PAF-F16s during RedFlag exercise.
(All photos via author unless otherwise mentioned)
Tomas Chlebecek

Pakistan: A Regional Nuclear Power

Facing Global Strategic Challenges

MT examines and assesses the Pakistani Armed Forces in light of the US, which fluctuates between alliance and mutual suspicion and dis-
their potential importance in a region of considerable instability and trust. The armed forces have always been the most credible and trusted
uncertainty. institution in Pakistan, and often played a central role in its internal affairs,
leading to successive periods of direct military rule or quasi-military re-
gimes in 1958–1971, 1977–1988 and 1999–2008. This heritage, and the
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is the world’s sixth largest country country’s nuclear status, gave cause for international concerns over the
by population (over 205 million) and the second largest majority Muslim internal stability of Pakistan, a number of border clashes, its support for
country, after Indonesia. Since independence in 1947, it has traditionally various militant groups in Afghanistan and Kashmir, the safety of its nucle-
been a key player in both the larger Middle East and South Asia regions. ar arsenal and non-proliferation. However, it is important to underscore an
This role has been influenced mostly by its geopolitical rivalry with India obvious but surprisingly little understood fact – that Pakistan has always
(three regular wars were waged in 1947, 1965 and 1971, and a limited pursued its perceived national interests first: alignment with the interests
conflict in 1999), alliance with China, and rather complex relationship with of other world powers has been a secondary concern.

The USS REUBEN JAMES,
with Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS)
SHAHJAHAN and PNS TIPPI
SULTAN, participating
in Exercise Inspired Siren 2002.
(Photo: US Navy/Photographer’s
Mate 2nd Class Aaron Ansarov)