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expensive battle. While there are no reliable figures, it is conservatively estimated that both sides commit more than half a million US dollars to the conflict each day. What is Pakistan hoping to achieve by this lavish use of scarce resources? When General Musharraf was asked, he gave the following reply: ‘We have the upper hand here. It costs the Indians more to fight on Siachin than us. It’s all about the degree of difficulty we can create for the other side.’32 Factually, the general was quite correct. But for Pakistan to think that it can reduce India to bankruptcy is clearly absurd. Morally, it is difficult to see how either India or Pakistan can justify expending so many lives and so much money on such a useless conflict.
A Political Army The Pakistan army has repeatedly shown a greater willingness to grasp power than to give it up. None of the first three army chiefs to rule Pakistan – Ayub Khan, Yayha Khan and Zia ul Haq – gave up power voluntarily. There is no reason to believe that General Musharraf will act differently. After taking over, the first task of any military ruler is to address the nation on radio and television. It has happened in Pakistan four times and on each occasion the coup leaders have summoned as much sincerity as they could muster and have delivered carbon copy speeches. This is a drastic and extreme step taken with great reluctance but with the deepest conviction that there was no alternative to it except the disintegration and complete ruination of the country. —Ayub Khan, October The armed forces could not remain idle spectators of this state of near anarchy. They have to do their duty and save the country from utter disaster. —Yayha Khan, March I was obliged to step in to fill the vacuum created by the political leaders. —Zia ul Haq, July