An authoritative, timely analysis of the armed forces of Pakistan - a key player in one of the world's most volatile regions. Assesses the role of the forces in Pakistani defence, policy and strategy and provides the most comprehensive description available of the country's military capabilities.

To the north a seemingly endless civil war in Afghanistan fuelled by arms from Russia and the USA. To the west, a fundamentalist Islamic region in Iran, with links to international terrorism. To the north-east, a secessionist guerilla war in Kashmir. To the east, India, with which Pakistan has fought two wars in forty years. In these volatile circumstances, Pakistan's armed forces continue to play an important role both internally and externally.

Since their creation out of the communal violence of partition at the end of WWII, the armed forces of Pakistan have played a central role in the Pakistan state, periodically usurping the civil authority and ruling in its own right. Guardians of the Nation describes the nature of Pakistan's defence capabilities and the forces which will shape them in the twenty-first century. It surveys the forces locked in conflict over the nuclear option and examines the three internal pressures Pakistan continues to face: militarisation, secularisation and Islamic fundamentalism.

Guardians of the Nation assesses the role of the armed forces in the context of defence policy and strategy, and its social and political role. It also provides the most comprehensive description of the nature of the air, naval and ground forces available, as well as an account of each of their capabilities and ambitions. An appendix provides a precise order of battle.