Pakistan’s security establishment’s “hard-state” doctrine, as introduced by Army Chief Asim Munir, emphasizes discipline and national security but is increasingly viewed as centralized coercion and military-first governance, especially in regions like PoK, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh. Public discontent extends beyond governance issues to questioning the entire political order due to the perceived extraction of resources, identity policing, and dissent criminalization by the security establishment.
The report highlights that Pakistan’s policies in PoK present a contradiction where it claims to defend Kashmiri rights internationally while suppressing local mobilization in the region, treating civil rights movements as security threats. Recent actions against the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, which demanded basic rights like cheaper electricity and political representation, exemplify the security establishment’s approach of delegitimizing grievances, criminalizing protests, and justifying force as necessary for maintaining law and order.
Across various regions, including PoK, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh, movements are suppressed through bans, arrests of leaders, communication shutdowns, and blaming foreign interference, leading to deeper alienation instead of national integration. The report concludes that the “hard state” doctrine, while able to impose temporary order through fear, fails to establish legitimacy, protect civilians, resolve grievances, or build trust, ultimately revealing a facade of discipline masking underlying state failure.
