The strategic imperative is held as the primary explanation for Pakistan's military buildup. This book presents a fundamental departure in presenting an analysis of the internal dynamics of defence management and decisionmaking in Pakistan - a new nuclear weapon state. This is an in-depth study of Pakistan's security link with its arms suppliers and defence industrial capacity, and the influence of Pakistan's Army on conventional and non-conventional defence decisions. The analysis is backed with numerous case studies of defence decisions carried out from 1979-99.

'...an intriguing study of Pakistan's defence and security...a brave and informative book.' - Kanti Bajpai, New Outlook, June 11 2001

'This book is definitely the best researched book on its subject that this reviewer has come across. It is strong both on analysis and empirical fact-finding.' - Dr. Tariq Rahman, The News International, May 2001

'...filled with interesting revelations and analyses...a brave and informative book.' - Kanti Bajpai, Outlook

List of Tables
List of Figures
List of Maps
Acknowledgements
Preface
Foreword
Glossary
Introduction
PART ONE
Development of Threat Perception
The Official Decisionmaking System
Pakistan's Power Politics and Defence Decisionmaking
The Cost of Military Buildup
Military Industrial Complex
PART TWO
Military Buildup Decisions, 19779-90
Military Buildup Decisions, 1990-99
Mutually Assured Deterrence: The Nuclear Option
Looking Ahead
Index
Pakistan's Arms Suppliers

AYESHA SIDDIQA-AGHA is a freelance researcher and a civil servant. In recognition of her research she was appointed as the Director of Naval Research in the Pakistan Navy, a distinction enjoyed by no other Pakistani academic. Also a Ford Fellow, she has contributed numerous articles and papers in international journals and other publications. Her previous work includes Management of Light Weapons Production in Public and Private Sectors: A View from Pakistan and Curbing the Weapons of Civilian Destruction.