ISLAMABAD:
The long-speculated hybrid power system in Pakistan now appears fully entrenched and openly acknowledged by key political and military figures. What was once whispered behind closed doors is now openly endorsed, with federal ministers praising the model and the military chief receiving international attention usually reserved for elected leaders. This signals a shift where the balance of power no longer hides behind curtains but stands openly center stage.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif recently tweeted that Pakistan’s economic revival, India’s setbacks, and improved US ties were all achieved through close cooperation between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, highlighting the strong ties between Islamabad and Rawalpindi. While such statements raised eyebrows, many analysts see this as confirmation that the hybrid system—where civilian rule blends with military influence—is not just real but flourishing.
Once a cautiously used term, the “hybrid system” is now openly described as a practical solution to Pakistan’s ongoing political and economic instability. Civilian and military roles are increasingly blurred, with political legitimacy now deriving as much from electoral success as from proximity to the military establishment in Rawalpindi.
Initially championed by PTI, the hybrid model has now been tacitly accepted by mainstream parties like PML-N and PPP, which recognize that survival lies in integration rather than opposition. Decades of political strife, including confrontations, disqualifications, imprisonments, and exile, seem to have yielded little resistance to this evolving power structure.
Renowned analyst Raza Rumi calls the hybrid system “the slow cementing of a hybrid power structure,” noting that while permanence in Pakistan’s politics is fragile, this is more than a passing moment. He explains that the military, long seen as the guardian of national interests, is no longer operating behind the scenes but has institutionalized its role, complete with uniforms, protocols, and even diplomatic influence. Rumi notes, “Civilians remain in office, but power increasingly lies elsewhere.”
Regarding Field Marshal Asim Munir’s solo meeting with former US President Donald Trump, Rumi points out the significance of the title “Field Marshal”—a rank symbolizing authority beyond the battlefield and a clear sign of where real decisions are made. Such a meeting, bypassing typical diplomatic channels, reflects the military’s dominant role in Pakistan’s foreign policy, especially in a region where security concerns dictate international relations.
However, Rumi also highlights the uneasy optics of the situation: the elected Prime Minister had to follow up publicly to reaffirm his invitation to Trump, underscoring the reality that civilian leaders are in office but often not in the spotlight. This overt choreography of power shows Pakistan’s international engagements mirroring the hybrid order at home, where authority is managed by unelected institutions.
Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, President of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), attributes the current visible military ascendancy largely to the bitter political confrontations between PTI and the government, and PTI’s anti-military stance. He believes that as dialogue and tolerance improve, the situation will normalize.
On the unprecedented Trump-Munir meeting, Mehboob sees it as an extraordinary event reflecting Pakistan military’s growing geopolitical importance, especially its recent counter-terrorism successes. However, he hopes such developments remain exceptions, noting Trump’s penchant for unconventional moves.
Regarding political parties’ acceptance of the hybrid model, Mehboob rejects the idea that they embrace it by choice. Instead, he suggests parties are adapting to temporary realities and stresses the urgent need for dialogue focused on creating conditions for free and fair elections. He concludes that if parties de-escalate confrontations and commit to constructive dialogue, there is greater hope for democratic progress and credible elections in Pakistan’s future.
