Ayesha Siddiqa is known for her controversial book Military Inc. She is a Pakistani political scientist who is working as a research associate at the SOAS South Asia Center and is also a political commentator and novelist. Between 2004 and 2005, she worked as the Woodrow Wilson Center’s first Pakistan Fellow.
Born in Lahore, Siddiqa studied at Kinnaird College and went on to join the Civil Service of Pakistan. As a civil servant, Siddiqa served as the director of naval research with the Pakistan Navy, making her the first civilian and the first woman to work in that position in Pakistan’s defence establishment. She also worked in military accounts and as deputy director Defense Services Audit.
She has written extensively on the Pakistan military, and her research has covered issues varying from the Pakistan military’s covert development of military technology, defensive game theory, nuclear deterrence, arms procurement, and arms production, to civil-military relations in Pakistan.
Her book “Military Inc: Inside Pakistan’s Military Economy” became very controversial because it reveals the extent of the Pakistani military’s involvement in the country’s economy. The book describes how the military has a significant stake in various industries, including real estate, manufacturing, and agriculture, which has enabled it to accumulate wealth and power beyond its legitimate role as a defender of the country.
The book is still the talk of the town because it challenges the image of the Pakistani military as a professional and apolitical institution. The military has been a dominant force in Pakistani politics for much of the country’s history, and its economic influence adds a new dimension to its already considerable power. The book has also been criticized by some in the Pakistani military for allegedly tarnishing the image of the institution and providing fodder for those who are critical of the military’s role in politics.
Furthermore, the book has been controversial because of the author’s personal background. Ayesha Siddiqa is a Pakistani defense analyst who was previously employed by the Pakistani military. Some have accused her of being biased against the military due to her background, while others have praised her for her courage in speaking out about an issue that is often kept hidden from public view.
