Trump draws closer to Pak’s ‘Milibus’

Pak’s military is seen by Trump as a more reliable conduit for executing tactical goals than its civilian govt.

- PRABHU DAYAL

At the recent Gaza peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, President Trump publicly referred to General Asim Munir as his “favourite Field Marshal”.

Trump has displayed a remarkably warm and friendly relationship with the Pakistan's army chief. As the head of Pakistan’s military, Munir offers an opportunity for direct dealings, which fits Trump's transactional approach to foreign policy.

Recent developments indicate how Trump is getting drawn into Pakistan's “milibus” or “military’s business” syndrome. “Milibus” refers to the military's vast, unaccountable, and nontransparent business empire. This military capital is used for the personal benefit of the armed forces’ leadership but is not recorded in the official defence budget. The “milibus” provides the military with financial autonomy and increases its interest in maintaining political power. The military’s business interests are frequently intertwined with its political influence, undermining civilian institutions.

The term “milibus” was coined by analyst Ayesha Siddiga in her 2007 book “Military Inc.: Inside Pakistan’s Military Economy”. She estimated the military's business empire to be worth at least $20 billion at the time. Recent reports suggest this figure has grown significantly.

The milibus’ foundation was laid by Pakistan's first military ruler, Ayub Khan in the 1960s, but it expanded dramatically during subsequent dictatorships. The military justifies these ventures as welfare programs for its personnel, but critics point out that the benefits are disproportionately concentrated among the officer class.