Pakistan Army holds entirely Pakistan's fate since the 1950's, and it is the main responsible for Pakistan's situation - for better or worse.
That is incorrect, after Jinnah's unfortunate demise, the Muslim League changed its direction from what was outlined by Jinnah and the first thing some of its member did was remove the liberal or "outsider" elements found within its ranks.
These elements were lower tier members of the Muslim League and once Pakistan was formed, they went ahead with their plan to eliminate and gain power in Pakistan. As soon as Jinnah was gone and after the assassination of Liaqat Ali Khan, some very prominent members of the Muslim League were removed abruptly who were a proponent of a Pakistan that Jinnah wanted. A very prominent newspaper tycoon whose name alludes me was ran out of the League, Sardar Shaukat Hayat Khan was never given any prominent role, HH Aga Khan was out of the picture completely.
The only one left from the top tier leaders was Sir Zafarullah Khan and the Governor of Punjab Daultana who disliked him had planned to get rid of him too. Daultana with other other religiously motivated people had created links with the anti-Pakistan religious parties who launched a full fledged violent movement asking for his removal. No one was able to control this and the army had to move in to save what was now the last remnants of Jinnahs Pakistan.
Another setback for Pakistan was the plane crash which resulted in the death of Maj. Gen. Iftikhar Khan, a man who was going to be C-in-C and he would have never involved the army in politics but fate had other plans. Gen. Ayub Khan, a man marked for early retirement by Jinnah, was able to rise above the ranks only because of his political abilities and with the arrests that took place after the Rawalpindi Conspiracy, many of the people who might have become the C-in-C were removed.
So the army was developing a plan of its own based on the dangerous game being played in the Muslim League. As a staunchly secular force, it had to look out for Pakistan and it was developed according to exactly that in mind. After the insertion of "Islamic" prefix in the 1958 constitution, the army was the one which removed it in 1962, this is an indication of its deep rooted secular beliefs.
What the army achieved for Pakistan in those early years was magnificent to say the least. Gen. Ayub Khan was a master politician and he turned Pakistan into a development dream, the least corrupt nation in Asia and the most progressive one too. Its role in cementing Pakistan as a nation worth admiring was cemented because of the army. It retained the good elements from the Muslim League and got Pakistan going.
Unfortunately with the army in the helms of things, it was a matter of time before their own men decided to formulate the defense policy.
The plan was magnificent, its execution was brilliant but the internal change at the last minute meant that Pakistan suffered and it was due to the leaderships mismanagement.
The main problem is that de-facto the army is not accountable to anyone in Pakistan and is conducting the national security policy as it seems fit. This attitude of the army caused to the spread of corruption within its ranks and for it to gain economic benefits for its senior command.
This is not the main problem, the main problem is that we never had a civilian leader who could make the army accountable for its actions. Bhutto tried to "save" the army after the 1971 debacle by making it unaccountable and he did this for selfish reasons. He wanted to remove all elements that could threaten his position, he then replaced the people with the worst available who went on to destroy Bhutto and this nation. It was Bhutto who tried to destroy the military and it had to save itself, it went through the worst of changes and it is fighting with this change to this day.
This corruption is limited to certain people, the army by and large is the least corrupt institution in Pakistan, its economic interests have actually helped Pakistan and if it wasn't for it, the country would be completely dominated by certain businessmen who are only looking out for their own interest.
Furthermore, the army quickly move to crush any opposition to its status in Pakistan and meddle in the political system in order to prevent any option of a strong civilian government that might confront it. When its position is threatened, the army does not hesitate to use force and conduct coups against an elected government.
Most of this so call political system that he have in place has been created by the military, it could have limited them but it have them a chance and they failed to achieve anything. This strong civilian aspect has to become strong itself, an army created political entity cannot become strong as it has weak foundations.
These coups were just in some situations except for the time Gen. Zia conducted a coup against Bhutto which was unnecessary.
Above all, the army is never sincere with the people of Pakistan. It glorify itself and its capabilities in order to justify its privileges and its high status above the other sectors, and develop unrealistic expectations among the masses that it can confront India. In addition it is trying to benefit form a close cooperation with the US while presenting itself to the public as against the US and its activities (like the drone strikes).
What privileges, these so called privileges are restricted to some members of the forces, during my fathers youth, most of these serving officers used to cycle to work. Some officers were from rich background and were privileged but most are grounded and remain so to this day, every one isn't driving around in a new BMW or Mercedes with a barricade.
As for the developed expectations, they were realistic, look up the armies brilliant performance in some operations. The failures that occurred were because of the leadership and not because the institute was on the wrong foot. As for the scenario today, I agree it needs to be more clear but there is a dangerous game being played and it will all become clear later.
Furthermore, the army never provide any accounts to its obvious failures which it cannot hide, such as the 1971 War, the assassination in Zia and Benazir Bhutto, the AQ Khan proliferation network and lately the killing of OBL by the US.
These failures were national failures and cannot be accredited to the army alone. Some were internal matters with a hint of an international tinge while others were political situations being diffused by the army. As a nation, there have been many episodes that this country has been through which will develop its future strategy.
Pakistan Army is indeed an army which has a state and not vice versa. The only way to make any significant change in its position is if it loses public sympathy and public opinion will demand to conduct reforms in this archaic organisation.
Things are changing, there were lessons to be learned in all that has happened over the years and thought its been tough, it will help define the future political landscape of this country. There have been wrongs and there have been rights but unfortunately the complex society meant that attention was focused upon nonsensical matters while the nation burned.
Things will change though, it cannot continue on the same path.
