Poles Apart: The Military and Democracy in India and Pakistan

Is there a fundamental reason why India and Pakistan have followed such divergent paths? Many might point to the pervasive role of the military in Pakistan’s politics. While the interventionist stance of the Pakistani army is often cited as a key factor in its democratic shortcomings, the contrasting restraint of the Indian military is seldom studied or credited.

Poles Apart offers a unique and original investigation into the comparative roles of the military in India and Pakistan, examining their influence on the evolution of democracy in both nations. The book underscores the divisive impact of military coups on Pakistan’s democratic trajectory, while also closely analyzing moments in India’s history when the military could have intervened in politics but chose to remain apolitical.

Incidents like the humiliation by China in 1962, the Emergency, and Operation Blue Star serve as compelling case studies of how the Indian army, despite being treated poorly, resisted political involvement. In stark contrast, the dominance of Field Marshal Ayub Khan, General Yahya Khan, General Zia-ul-Haq, and General Pervez Musharraf in Pakistan's political arena reflects a very different set of choices and outcomes.

A concise chapter on Bangladesh and its oscillation between democracy and martial rule rounds out this deeply researched study. Poles Apart offers an insightful exploration of how military influence—or the lack thereof—has shaped the democratic journeys of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.