The rise of the TTP was/is a complex issue that didn’t have just one or two factors behind it.
Socio-economic deprivation in the region, the wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s support for proxies in Afghanistan that leveraged FATA for logistics, shelter and manpower, the unfettered spread of extremist religious ideology, especially sectarianism … much of this was done at the behest of the Fauji leadership.
And while the ineptitude and corruption of civilian governments and institutions certainly played a role, it was the Fauj that set that ball rolling as well, going back to the treason and overthrow of civilian governments by Ayub Khan, if not even earlier. We see this playing out now in front of us, with the Fauj openly manipulating and undermining democracy and civilian institutions and destroying a viable new third option (PTI). And then, years later, as the Fauj promoted Sharif vs Zardari/Bhutto musical chairs continue, the Fauj can pretend that ‘oh, the civilians are so corrupt, we are the only saviors.
At its root the Fauj is responsible for the rot in civilian institutions and the associated socio-economic regression in Pakistan.
A functioning prosperous Democracy doesn’t just sprout out of thin air - it has to be nurtured, insitutions evolve and strengthen over time, and the Fauj has done absolutely everything to retard democracy in Pakistan and then present itself to be the only ‘disciplined and capable institution able save the country’.
