Problems Faced by President Ayub Khan During His Long-Lasting Rule 1958-1969: A Critical Analysis

Abstract

In eleven years as Pakistan's leader, Mohammed Ayub Khan had kept a stable government and handled economic issues well. However, he had not enhanced his relations with India, especially regarding the issue of Kashmir. His failure to secure an agreement on the issue of Kashmir had reduced his army support and strengthened his opponents. Additionally, the war against India in September 1965 had increased separatist unrest in East Pakistan. Ayub faces significant domestic criticism mainly about his foreign policy. He can only silence critics through successful dealings with India, which seems unlikely. Without this success, he must pay more attention to his opponents’ views. Ayub and the Army have significant personal influence in the officer corps. Ayub is worried about criticism from the military. His good relations with the army weakened after his unsuccessful attempt to resolve the Kashmir issue in 1965. Without army support, he might stay in power for a while, but would quickly fall if the army opposed him. The article aims to examine the various problems faced by Ayub Khan during his rule.