Pakistan faces deepening political and economic strain one year after Operation Sindoor: Report
Islamabad, May 14
Pakistan's domestic political landscape continues to be shaped by instability, deep distrust, and the enduring dominance of the military over civilian institutions - a year after Operation Sindoor which was launched by the Indian military following the heinous April 22, 2025 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, a report has mentioned.
"India's four-day war with Pakistan in May 2025 left Pakistan facing intensifying political, economic, and social crises at home even as its leaders worked hard to project strength and diplomatic relevance abroad. One year on, the gap between Pakistan's domestic troubles and its external narrative of resilience and victory has become a defining feature of its postwar reality," a report in One World Outlook detailed.
According to the report, the war intensified Pakistan's deep-rooted structural vulnerabilities, particularly as it unfolded during a period of economic fragility and intense political contestation.
Under Pakistani army chief Asim Munir, the military has consolidated influence over core state decisions and projected several political disputes as security issues, effectively "replacing governance with military management", particularly in Balochistan province and other volatile regions across Pakistan.
Citing reports, it highlighted recurring patterns of "mass arrests, enforced disappearances, and politicised legal cases against opposition figures and activists", reinforcing perceptions of a shrinking democratic space in the country.
"The 2025 war reinforced the military's centrality by allowing it to present itself as the guardian of national sovereignty, but it did not resolve underlying grievances about federal power sharing, provincial autonomy, or civil-military imbalances," the report noted.
Instead, it said, the conflict's anniversary finds Pakistan still grappling with civil unrest and long-standing demands for greater autonomy or independence in Sindh and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
"The war's timing aggravated an already severe economic crisis characterised by high inflation, low growth, and looming debt problems. Analyses of Pakistan's economic situation in 2025-26 highlight a combination of negative growth, inflation around 6 per cent in FY25, and a poverty rate exceeding 42 per cent, affecting over 100 million people. These pressures leave little fiscal room for post-conflict reconstruction or social protection," the report stated.
At the societal level, it said, Pakistan faces what experts term an education and health emergency. Around 23 million children are out of school, while many of those enrolled experience learning deprivation, with child stunting affecting around 40 per cent and preventable diseases claiming over a thousand children's deaths per day.
These conditions, combined with postwar uncertainty, persistent poverty, and displacement in border regions, created a volatile environment, especially as communities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Balochistan feel they bear the costs of conflict without its "supposed strategic benefits", the report noted.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting read. As an outsider living in Canada, it's hard to understand how Pakistan's military can claim victory when their economy is in shambles and millions are suffering. The gap between their propaganda and reality is staggering. Hope sanity prevails there soon.
The part about Pakistan-occupied Kashmir really hit home. Our brothers and sisters there are suffering double - under military occupation AND bearing the brunt of failed wars. India must continue diplomatic pressure for their liberation. Also, 100 million in poverty? That's terrifying numbers for any country. 😞
I'm from the UK and this is an eye-opener. We often hear Pakistan's side of the story in our media, but reports like this show the other reality. The military seems to be running the show while the country crumbles. Operation Sindoor may have been justified, but the aftermath is a humanitarian tragedy.
Honestly, while I support India's right to self-defense, I have mixed feelings about celebrating Pakistan's misery. We should focus on their people's welfare instead of gloating. That said, their military-industrial complex needs serious reform. The 42% poverty rate is heartbreaking - hope common Pakistanis get some relief soon. 🤔
As someone who's visited both India and Pakistan, this report makes me sad. The common people on both sides just want peace and prosperity. Pakistan's military seems to be dragging the country into deeper trouble every year. The education and health stats are alarming - 40% child stunting is a national emergency.
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