Publication

This briefing assesses the risk posed by the Pakistani military government in post-earthquake reconstruction efforts and to domestic and regional security. It is argued that the military government sought to use earthquake rescue and relief, and now intends to use reconstruction and rehabilitation, to demonstrate its competence. However, the authors highlight the institutional shortcomings and inadequacies of authoritarian rule in the initial emergency response in October 2005. Moreover, the briefing notes that the government's tight central control, refusal of civilian oversight, and support of Islamist organizations could seriously undermine the reconstruction process.