India is the principal enemy; and our Saudi and Gulf friends wish the other neighbour, Iran, to be bombed. We are obsessed with “legitimate” security interests in Afghanistan. This is a dysfunctional state of being and has made us addicted to western aid, leveraging global great games and denying that regional cooperation is in our ultimate self-interest. Such delusional ways of looking at the world has made the state splinter and devolve authority to non-state actors, which can advance its security policies.
What is the picture that emerges from the cable-mess: A president lives in fear of being assassinated; the army chief ‘considers’ options to dismiss the elected president and then changes his mind because he “distrusts” the alternative — Nawaz Sharif — even more! The state benefits from American largesse and hates it at the same time. Civilian leaders regularly reiterate their support to the US — the second A in the power trinity of ‘Allah, America and the Army’. Sadly, nothing new. Yet, deeply disturbing.
Those who thought the lawyers’ movement has altered the course of Pakistani history, or that the re-emergence of civilian politics was going to shift the balance of power between the civil and the military, were wrong. Pakistan’s security establishment remains in charge of the country except that it no longer enjoys a monopoly. There are civilian allies of the non-state actors now who can adequately warn banned terrorist outfits of an impending crackdown (which is what Shahbaz Sharif did with the Lashkar-e-Taiba, according to a leaked cable).
The centre-province, civil-military and ideological fissures define the state of Pakistan in the 21st century. Of course, the conduct of Western powers does not help either. The US ambassador moves around the country reminiscent of the way a viceroy mediated warring domestic parties. The influence of the Saudi kingdom illustrated by their biases and sectarian worldviews dominates our policy considerations.
Pakistan cannot continue to function like this. It has moved to a situation where its dependent ruling elites are disconnected from an exploding population and embroiled in an intra-bourgeoisie conflict, thereby paving the way for short-term political instability and medium-term crisis of governance. Whether we like it or not, the world is rightly worried about a nuclear state unable to govern itself. It’s about time Pakistanis woke up and re-examined their obsession with outsiders destabilising the country. Who needs enemies when our ruling classes are playing the game so well?
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2010.
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Wikileaks on PakistanIn the State Department, diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks and so far reported, Pakistan is in limelight once again-a South Asian country to which terrorism has been the greatest threat since past few years. Now these Wikileaks have proved that terrorism is not the only threat which people of this country are confronted with but the biggest threat for Pakistan is its insincere political leadership including Army Chief who are totally exposed before the world. They are the ones who have sold out their loyalty and Pakistan’s sovereignty to Americans to promote their self-vested interests and just to stay in power for next few years. Pakistanis may expect anything from their corrupt leaders but its quite shocking that Army chief is very much involved in all this controversy which is quite shameful for us as a nation. General Ashfaq Pervez Kyani has already become a contentious figure because he has been called as the ‘real architect’ of dubious NRO and undue extension of 3 years to his service tenure. The U.S. denial of Wikileaks is quite ridiculous in this regard. Wikileaks on one hand once again badly damaged Pakistan repute all over the world but on other hand, it has exposed the top military and political elite and their so-called loyalty for this country which is a matter of utter shame and disgrace. There is no conspiracy against our leaders by any nation. Wikileaks are based on actual facts and ground realities and our ‘sincere and patriotic leaders’ know this very well. President, Prime Minister and Army Chief should resign from their posts in the best interest of the country neither they are capable enough to stay in power, nor they enjoy masses support any longer.