To an extent yes and no - one has to understand that the establishment isn’t some unified military front. This isn’t a cartel or mafia but more akin to a loose federation of common goal high ranking officers who continue to be groomed in this mindset by their previous generation of this cabal.
When we use the term is doesn’t mean some sinister organization but a mix of pre-established actual policies which make up 30-40% and then culture which is 60%.
You also need to separate the idea of establishment as related to foreign policy versus internal politics versus monetary gains. They all are independent “establishments” with the foreign policy one more formalized and documented along with including a lot oF bureaucracy as well.
This “establishment” interacts the internal politics one interfaces with that for foriegn policy to a small extent but unlike the latter has no continued existence on record nor is it formalized. The monetary establishment is even more loose with policies only focused on veterans or logistics support . Everything else is simply continuing culture - DHA is less of a policy institute and more propogating the culture of wanting to do business for both serving and veteran officers. The khoofia agency getting a petrol pump to run as a corruption payment from PPP also uses some of the funds from that corrupt procurement to finance ops against both political miscreants and internal/external security threats under the table with zero traceability. The same agency using heera mandi to trap a politician who was supplying intelligence to India also has 1-2 officers testing the “maal”.
So the establishment isn’t some evil council meeting of “how to land grab and make money” happening every corps commanders conference. It is more akin to side schemes popping out under actual national security or military logistics needs. The PAF isn’t looking to establish a five star ski resort on its land in its air staff requirements or even long term plans. Its some person already dipped in real estate or moneymaking presenting to other officers who decide its good to get the PAF another line of money(no one dares talks about what they’ll pocked in official meetings or circles) while others like the idea of helping their fellow officers get good facilities even if unwarranted excess - the few that object dont really do it because they know it’s the name of the game.
The corrupt colonel in DHA is ignored because they prioritize land to fellow officers and especially coursemates or seniors - which in turn gets the label “Takes care of fellow officers” and by willful or apathetic ignorance the corruption is ignored.
The Military intelligence folks who have hundreds of cases on such folks when presented to senior officers for execution are either tackled very quietly with internal payouts or overlooked under the garb of protection of the military image. After all, both from continuing this “establishment” and teaching it to the next generation - the very essence of what makes the military a “stable” profession with a guaranteed good retirement(based on either good performance or kiss assery which helps in later aspects of career) sans the risk to life and limb is this “establishment”. And these people didn’t come from the heavens, or USA or CIA or otherwise - they are Pakistanis simply applying Pakistani culture into their particular environment and scenario.
