Understanding Civil Military Relations in Pakistan

Compiled and Edited by Aamir Mahar

Civil-military relations can be defined in terms of a balance between the civilian and military organization and institutions and their internal cohesiveness. Ideally, in an open society, military enjoys the professional autonomy while submitting itself to the political authority. According to present theory of civil military relation, there is complete separation between the civil and the military. In the correct relations, the military plays a subordinate role in the execution of defence and security policies. Civilian decisions are hypothetically accepted as final. Military inputs are asked not forced in the decision or policy making. The most famous case of submitting to the civilian rule was of General MacArthur after the Korean War.