New Delhi, Dec. 31 -- The war also coincided with political turmoil in Pakistan. Fatima Jinnah, sister of Pakistan's founder, contested the 1965 presidential elections against Ayub Khan. Although she had clearly won the popular vote, the military regime manipulated the election, giving Ayub a fraudulent victory by a margin of 10,000 votes.
Facing a legitimacy crisis, Ayub resorted to external conflict to strengthen his power. The promise of quick gains in Kashmir was presented as a route to national glory, concealing internal divisions. Thus, Pakistan's military adventurism was as much about strengthening Ayub's domestic political position as it was about changing the regional balance.
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