Author Description

The book compares the evaluation of civil-military relations in India and Pakistan in the post independence years. It highlights why unlike in Pakistan, there have been no military interventions in politics in India. The armed forces of both countries inherrited many common characterstics of British Indian Armed Forces. Similarly the civil services of both the countries are originated from Indian Civil Services of the British era. The relationship between political leadership and the bureaucracy on one hand and that between the latter and the army on the other- have a direct bearing on military intervention. General Bahl is of the opinion that political culture, including political leadership, emerged as an important factor which affected the forms of civilian control over the military in India and Pakistan. The author observes, while the Indian military has internalized the concept of civilian supermacy, the Pakistan military have institutionalized its role in the political decision making. The book highlights that senior Indian military officers were responsible for establishing and maintaining a high code of conduct and enjoined to keep away from politics.