Military Polarisation and Testing Allegiance: Pakistan’s Nuclear Guardians in Times of Imran Khan

The heightened polarisation inflicted by Imran Khan on Pakistan has permeated into the country’s military, undermining the unity of command of its powerful army. This does not bode well for the safety and security of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons as the breakdown of unity of command in the armed forces might also affect the institutional cohesion of the paramilitary organisation in charge of securing Pakistan’s nuclear weapons—the Strategic Plans Division (SPD). Considering that SPD mostly recruits its personnel from the Pakistan Army, this article argues that it would be an underestimation, rather than an exaggeration, to presume that Imran Khan’s politics is disconnected from the lives of Pakistan’s nuclear guardians in uniform. The study underscores the potential for a decline in the institutional cohesion of the SPD in the years ahead, as a consequence of the intense polarisation inflicted upon the country by Imran Khan. This article opens grounds for further research on the scope of mainstream polarisation potentially impacting the loyalties of Pakistan’s nuclear guardians in uniform.