Pakistan

Pakistan ranks 12th on failed states index: Report

Pakistan moves from 10 to 12 on the failed states index published by Foreign Policy magazine.

Express June 21, 2011

Pakistan ranked number 12 on a list of the “most failed states”, according to an annual report published in the Foreign Policy* magazine on Tuesday.

The report titled “The Failed States Index 2011” compiles a list of countries in terms of vulnerability. From refugee flows to poverty, public services to security threats, the list takes together a country's performance on this battery of indicators to reflect its stability.

In both 2009 and 2010, Pakistan took the number 10 spot on this index, whereas in 2008 it was ranked number nine.

Amongst Pakistan's neighbouring states, Afghanistan ranks 7 while Iran ranks 35. FP magazine states that these countries are on 'alert'.

Bangladesh ranks 25, and Sri Lanka is 29 on this list.

China ranks 72, whereas India ranks 76 on the list. These countries are considered to be in the 'moderate' zone for vulnerability.

The US ranks 158, while the UK ranks 159.

The 2011 report states that Pakistan has long been dubbed the “world's most dangerous country” in Washington policy circles. The report states:

Tick off any checklist of US national security concerns, and Pakistan has them all: nuclear weapons, terrorist and insurgent groups galore, and rampant anti-American sentiment. Add to all this a volatile political system, and it's no wonder that Pakistan preoccupies so many Western security analysts.

The report adds that Pakistan is not just dangerous for the West - it's often a danger to its own people.

It also states that the cultivation of militant groups by the Pakistani military and intelligence services - which the report states is a counterweight to India and a source of "strategic depth" in Afghanistan - has turned Pakistan into a “cockpit of terrorist violence”.

It adds that the country’s military leaders have made a “strategic” decision to allow the Pahstuns to govern themselves in what the report calls “ungoverned spaces” in the Pahstun-dominated badlands along the Afghanistan border.

The report cites terrorism and civilian deaths as one major reason for Pakistan's position, adding that the 2010 floods displaced millions of people, adding to the instability of the country.

The top 20 failed states on this index are:

Somalia

Chad

Sudan

Congo

Haiti

Zimbabwe

Afghanistan

Central African Republic

Iraq

Ivory Coast

Guinea

Pakistan

Yemen

Nigeria

Niger

Kenya

Burundi

Burma

Guinea-Bissau

Ethiopia

*Foreign Policy is a bimonthly American magazine founded in 1970.

The complete list can be viewed here.

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COMMENTS (190)

Melting | 13 years ago | Reply

@asim: You are right . On every blog they are doing anti Pakistan evaluations . They never let go of any oppurtunity to blame Pakistan. This shows their weak mental and physicological behavior.

Melting | 13 years ago | Reply

Leaders depict the kind of nation we are .And certainly we have got the most corrupt leaders among our ranks . We should learn lesson from China ,South Africa etc how they minimized corruption.China should have ranking anywhere near USA or UK not India because Chinese reserves , their indigenous defence , permanant membership in UNO , relations in Asia is far more better than India .India has land conflict with all its neighbours. So i doubt China compares India rather it suits USA.

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Melting | 13 years ago | Reply

Well India also has problems like pakistan but its media covers it positively unlike our media such as geo news etc.Pakistan is evaluated as a country having enormous problems but it doesn't mean that they will remain forever,InshaAllah we will see our country prosper by leaps and bounds in near future.

Barq Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistan leadership is immature and the same apply to its people, people blindly support the jihad of illiterate Taliban who are more dangerous than Jewish. O Pakistani Awaam try to understand your problem created by yourself. Do not support these Pagal Jihadis they are defaming Islam and Muslaman and destroying a powerful nation. I belong to a very reputed sect which called "Deobandi" in India I am also a Maulan from Darul Ulomm Deoband which issued Fatwa against terrisim, that is why Indian Muslims do not support them. O my brothers in Pak, please save your country, orelse Muslims will be now where. Regards Barq Khan Qasmi.

vasan | 13 years ago | Reply abid afridi: There is whole lot wishful thinking in your comments and nothing factual America is a failed state : A fanciful wish America is begging Pakistan : It is called applying pressure. Please read all the current news. They are paying or promising to pay and demand action. Nothing is free Pakistan is an Islamic state and Allah will help us. When did Allah tell u that????

ashfaqueshah | 13 years ago | Reply the recent ranking of Pakistan as the 12th most failed state is not truee

abid afridi | 13 years ago | Reply America in itself is a failed state. they are now cramping and begging pakistan to please help us. and u know what today or tomorrow we will be on the verge of success inshallah, because we are an islamic state and Allah will help us in solving all the issues.

Kiran Peter | 13 years ago | Reply I have sent two comments but you are not putting it online.

Kiran Peter | 13 years ago | Reply It is to observe Pakistan ranking 12th among failed states but this some how true as well. Which is due to dishonesty of our Goverment leaders, they need to be honest to the country and flow of money should be handled with accountability and transparency. People are miserable here and many are commiting succide due to bad governance. We cannot improve ourselves unless we become honest.

Kiran Peter | 13 years ago | Reply It's sad to hear Pakistan standing among the failed states, but the ranking is not untrue becuase of the critical situations of our country. There is no security for our lives, you never know when are you going to leave this world in a sudden bomb blast. Inflation is rising and people are becoming oppressed day by day. Poor people are having immense difficulties here, they are like living in a hell. Poor youth is just astraying and indulging in taking drugs to terrorists activities. I will not blame America for this because our own people who running this country are not honest. Honesty and faithfulness with our responsibilites is a tool to improve our conditions. Love you, the soil of Pakistan and request you to transform minds of dishonests here towards honesty.

PoorPeace! | 13 years ago | Reply "Also, compare the GDP, GDP per capita, GDP growth rates, GNP, GNI, etc over the years, and you will see for most of the past 40 years, both have remained comparable proportionately. Only in the last two years the trajectories have changed, but at present they remain very comparable whether you like it or not." @Jawad U Rehman...I dont know what you want to show! From the data source you have indicated GDP growth rate of India and Pakistan was same, or almost similar, only during the berief period of 1999-2000. Since then the smallest difference between the growth rates has been in 2004, India- 8.11% and Pakistan 7.32%. Since then India has been in the different orbit altogether. I dunno who told you that you can even compare the GDPs of India and Pakistan! As early as 1980, Indian GDP was $182.472 billion (current prices) while Pakistani GDP was $28.632 billion dollars, 1/6 of Indian GDP. Today indian GDP is close to 10 times of Pakistani GDP. GDP per capita for both the countries has been almost same with Pakistan enjoying a slight edge till 2006, since then India has taken over. But don't you think Pakistan ideally should have higher per capita GDP? After all its population is only 1/7 of Indian population so base effect is in its favor. Sorry I could not find data GNP and GNI in the website you mentioned and I decided not to use other sources or else you will scream about its authenticity. Source of data: google public data

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply @Jawad U Rehman: Forget all the other BS! Just read this link incidently in todays paper! Then please tell me as to who is dependant on what and why??? http://tribune.com.pk/story/194401/fiscal-arm-twisting-government-backs-down-after-adb-threat/

BruteForce | 13 years ago | Reply "Only in the last two years the trajectories have changed, but at present they remain very comparable whether you like it or not.. " Ha! 2 years? https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2003rank.html?countryName=Pakistan&countryCode=pk&regionCode=sas&rank=77#pk https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2004rank.html?countryName=Pakistan&countryCode=pk&regionCode=sas&rank=179#pk Pakistani growth was more than India's until the 1990s. After that the Indian economy was opened up and India has consistently outgrown Pakistan. Here is what CIA factbook based Indexmundi says about Pakistani GDP growth since 2003. 2003- 4.50 % 2004- 5.50 % 2005- 6.10 % 2006- 6.60 % 2007- 6.60 % 2008- 5.30 % 2009- 2.70 % 2010- 4.30 % 2011- 2.70 % Not once has the figure crossed 7%. What world are you living in! Compare this with India. India is now the fastest growing major economy in the World! https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2003rank.html Every year Pakistan doesn't grow more than 7% it will not be able to create enough jobs for the people entering the Job market that year! Compare this with India where the UN says India's poverty is going to decrease to 24%! http://business.rediff.com/report/2010/jun/23/india-poverty-rate-may-fall-to-24-percent-by-2015.htm "So, don’t write Pakistan off, it will come out of the present crisis stronger and better, Inshallah." Pakistan is expected to grow at the rate of 2.5% next year. Its population growth is around the 2% mark. So that would effectively mean no growth at all! I do agree that Pakistan is ahead of India in a few Human Indicators. That is really embarrassing for us. But, the rate at which India is growing and the fact that the economy of Pakistan is stagnant and will be stagnant for 2 more years, I see India overtaking Pakistan in the next few years.

Mustapha olu abdulfatah | 13 years ago | Reply Leadership failure is nigeria's main problem.

Ammad | 13 years ago | Reply Reading comments from our educated 'tabka', it is very obvious why we are a failed state! The intellectuals of this country have failed us. What leadership do you refer to? Can you even fathom the economic and infrastructural work required to bring this country to a reasonable level? The resources, money and environment required to achieve that? GO AND VOTE!

Jawad U Rehman | 13 years ago | Reply @Bruteforce and other Indians obsessed with Pakistan: I laugh at your selected use of data from hugely "credible" sources like news-world.us (whose homepage is a fashion page) etc. Why not use the wonderful tool by Google: http://www.google.com/publicdata/overview ... and while you are there, enlighten yourself with statistics on poverty, internet use, average life expectancy etc. Also, compare the GDP, GDP per capita, GDP growth rates, GNP, GNI, etc over the years, and you will see for most of the past 40 years, both have remained comparable proportionately. Only in the last two years the trajectories have changed, but at present they remain very comparable whether you like it or not.. But, it is unfair to judge a country based on a single sample in the middle of a bad patch. (It is like sampling India in the middle of the Khalistan insurgency in mid 80s and declare it a failed/failing state, worst human right abuser). Even in the current patch, and 2005 earthquake, and 2010 floods, and a global economic crisis, Pakistan continued to grow its GDP positively. So, don't write Pakistan off, it will come out of the present crisis stronger and better, Inshallah.

Sunil Bhalla | 13 years ago | Reply Thank God India didn't became a Hindu nation after Independence!! This is the best thing happened to Hinduism and India. Hinduism is very strong and healthy in India but we have never allowed Hinduism to mix with state. Hinduism and India are healthy today just because of this simple reason!

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply Asif Ali. Which hard work are you refering to?? Lies, deceit, trust Deficit etc..... or the one where the Army says that time is not right to take action in NW against the Terrorists or perhaps one about there are good Taliban and Bad Talibans!!! Ok the best so far, The Terrorists Backs have been Broken!!!!! Lets not forget the Army's Inflated Billing for the services rendered to US Taxpayers!!!!

PoorPeace! | 13 years ago | Reply @saeed... dear saeed. my first reaction when I read your comment was of extreme anger as I thought of you as yet another pakistani who is blaming everyone but himself for the problems his nation is facing. I am glad that comment was not published. I think most Indians come here for the sole reason of changing the mindset of hatred but when we see so much of vile and hatred spewed on India we end up retaliating. We dont enjoy seeing you in problem, never will. Peace between the nations is very important but for that you people will need to strengthen the hands of civilian govt. and elect a strong civilian govt. who can keep army in its place. If army and ISI runs the country then how can we expect peace bcoz they will always think short term not long term. Hope my views are taken in good spirit.

saeed | 13 years ago | Reply @Delh_se Dude I appreciate you comments..no Pakistani will take comments like you have given as offensive..if you see the comment section so many Pakistani criticize there army and government in very strong words for this situation..the problem is that when some Indians jump on these articles and then starts JINGOISM....we have our problems we all know that..no one is denying..from the corrupt politicians to the MULLAHS using Islam in politics...from Army generals to the intelligence agencies we all know the short comings...civil society of Pakistan which is a silent majority is doing introspect...the evil of extremism which was created starting from afghan jihad till 9/11 will take the same time to be killed in Pakistan..I am the first one ti point out the problems in Pakistan as I am the one who is suffering most then any one else..so why I will hide this..we all criticize our army and politicians and every one..but when some one else from other country will come and start trying to take in human advantage of the grieve situation of Pakistan we will not allow that.. some times i feel from the indian comments that they are enjoying this situation of Pakistan..the feeling of insult to injury and spreading salt on our wounds is so true when you so many comments from Indians...as our hands are tied with all the allegations of terrorism (instead we are the most affected nation on earth) aid money...economy and extremism...they think that they can bash as much Pakistani as then can with all these as there tools...I hope you understood my point..and all positive criticism is welcomed..

Noor | 13 years ago | Reply False Propaganda! The publishers belong to the super power, which brought these countries into a bad shape and probably want to be their Guardian now. Though these countries are not in an irreversible condition, if left at their own, without outside interference. Most of above countries have rich natural resources, which are eyed by the greedy powers, and hence required by them to supervise for their own interest. Has anyone called Kashmir or Palestine or Lebenon a failed state?

Moise | 13 years ago | Reply @Karmon ka Phal: That is why all the love from India.

mehdi Jamal | 13 years ago | Reply And on the U.N’s list of most corrupt countries, Pakistan us ranked one notch below Zimbabwe. Can you believe that? In company with Zimbabwe! Who do you think took Pakistan to this infamous recognition of corrupt & failed state pedestal? Wake up folks. It is the corrupt and incompetent political leaders coupled with the military/intelligence leaders on par with the civilian leaders. And this has been going on for Pakistan’s 50+ years’ history. These seeds were sown many years ago. You do not reach this infamous status overnight. Pakistan, Zindabad!!

delh_se | 13 years ago | Reply @saeed: Dude I agree with you, yes we were truthfully speechless and hiding in shame that despite all the progress we have quite a number of basic evil in society which has not been take care of. Never said India is perfect and never compared Pakistan with that angle. It is a sorry state that a women is ill treated in our country. Even if India was ranked 100th or last in the report card which says "list of countries where women are not safe" I would have felt equally bad as I am now. I would like to comment / participate in any social activity which can change this and remove India from list. That is what I would do rather than coming here and pointing out that you rank 3rd. We can hate each other as much as we like, bt we can atleast try to do something better for our respective country. Instead of jumping and being in denial about evils in our society we need to fix it. In India it is politicians and politically connected people and mafia who drives maximum corruption. common man are to busy in earning money, get education and improve standard of living. We are too busy since we are competing with a very huge population. Common and educated man try to avoid politics or any law and order job and stick to being an engineer, doctor, or any high income jobs. This leaves al the law and order to un-educated, corrupt, filth of society who not only loots India economically but also takes no action on daily henious cases like rape. We are aware of it and do everything in our reach to solve it. No system can change overnight. It took 60 year to build this corrupt to the root government infrastructure, it will take atleast a decade and lot of sacrifices to fix it. But we are doing it, Lokpal or ombudsman bill is a step towards making government and elected officals accountable for each and everything. Our certain critical laws are so outdated taht it predates to Britisher's time. We know all of this and WE NEVER DENY IT. But I do not recall with all this problems where except for this forst case of Samjhauta express blast did we ever did any terrorist activity in other countries. Your politicians and army certainly wantst to save their face from public by lying abd falsifying the accounts of Bangladesh partition and Kashmir issue, so that people like you get busy worrying and agrievating about it for rest of life and your army and politican can continue doing what they want. Tell me dear how many business tycoons in your country are not connected to politician and or army institutions ? How many of them in forbes ? Why does a country like yourse rich in resources and far lesser population to feed is in such a peril compare to many other nations in world. You could have easily become a progressive nation, ever thought why you are at this state ? Ever thought why you never beat India in Space race ? If yours was great nation until this war on terrorism how come you are not amongst the likes of eurpean nations ? Truth is, you have ever been so pre-occupied with partition, bangladesh and kashmir issue that you never thought of making any other progress other than increasing nuke stockpiles, which you know very well you or we hopefully will never get to use. Why dont take comment in progressive way rather than feeling offensive. Why not just read comment instead of judging that we comment here to insult you or because we hate you.

Fortune Cookie | 13 years ago | Reply Changes are coming. Be positive. Democracy is not built in years but decades. After MUSH, we have Mr. 10%. Thereafter, if we are positive and ensure that democracy rules, then the chances of coming out of this dolldrum will be great. BE POSTIVEand let democracy RULE.

saeed | 13 years ago | Reply It’s really very strange to see all the Indian jokers jumping on this article and commenting...just a few days ago when India was ranked 4th amongst Pakistan for most dangerous country in the world for women the same jokers were un happy and saying it is a fake list. No credibility how come we yes we jokers can be on fourth. But when it come to a list which does not show India then all these jokers come on to the circus with all there funny acts...how pity. Go and have a life...suddenly this list is making sense but when India is listed everything is fake...this all is based on perceptions which is thanks to Indian and international media is very negative on the global stage...just to give some examples...no other country in the list near to Pakistan has the nukes and the sixth biggest army...no one has the population near to as Pakistan. No other country in this list near to Pakistan has the kind of media and judiciary Pakistan possesses. No other country in the list near to Pakistan has the kind of Pakistani diaspora as Pakistan has with all the doctors engineers all around the world...even then we are among those countries. And how come an American list be made as a standard of failed states. Articles like this just gives these jokers to show there real face and are very happy to comment....these Indian jokers are like spreading salt on our wounds and that is there true nature...they show it every now and again...we are destabilized nation not a failed one and there are some many countries in the world who become stabilized from this situation so nothing to worry about..

Jawad U Rehman | 13 years ago | Reply @Proud_Yankee and Thinker: Look at any objective list comparing economies, India's and Pakistan's GDP per capita were about the same as of 2008/2009 (around $1000). India does have a current GDP growth rate, but the fact remains at the present time their GDP per capita is comparable (within 10% of each other). See UN's data: http://data.un.org/CountryProfile.aspx?crName=Pakistan and compare with India

Malay | 13 years ago | Reply There is no surprise in it.

vasan | 13 years ago | Reply So Pakistan is the 12th man here forming the "Dirty Dozen"

TruthIsGood | 13 years ago | Reply @Dr. S...you are as much Indian as I am pakistani :) Now shall we start speaking truth? :)

Dr. Saleem Siddiqi | 13 years ago | Reply @Mark India which has largest Jhopar Patti [slums) record in the whole world because of powerty level is no where in the list. Pakistan which has no Jhopar Patti has been pushed up. This is a totally biased report and is not acceptable. US may be happy and let them be happy on master-minding such biased reports as we Pakistanis dont care about its authenticity. It is correct we have some internal trouble within our Country, but great country like Pakistan never dishearten and our people know how to fight it back and turn the tables. Regards Dr. Saleem Siddiqi Johannesburg - South Africa

R S JOHAR | 13 years ago | Reply This is the only field where Pakistan can reach the top position. Seriously speaking, the situation in this country is going from bad to worst and in all probabilities position within first five places would be achieved in two years period.

sharjeel | 13 years ago | Reply its good to see iran at 35,,,,, even with almost all the western world conspiring ahainst them openly and covertly,,,,,go iran,, allah is with you for you are on the right path indeed

hassan | 13 years ago | Reply Do you know what is the greatest worry in India foreign policy circles these days? I met a senior Indian diplomat recently and he shared with me this: ---Pakistan in on the verge of implosion and it is just a matter of time the country starts to implode within itself. ---One more terrorist attack in the world which has Pak footprint and the country is gone. The world is waiting for a chance to place sanctions and embargos to remove their nukes. ---Once US decides to suspend economic aid, the country that is already bankrupt, will witness unprecedented scenes of violence from all groups, wanting to take over power. ---If the above happens, there will be a long life of refugess near Wagah border, which will give rise to humanitarian crisis. This looks a certainty in 3 years time. --- When lakhs of people near Wagah clamoring to be let inside, what will Indian govt do? Can they afford to use force against them? Can they afford to displease the local muslim population by refusing the Wagah refugees? Can India take in thousands of indoctrinated souls as refugees?

NJ | 13 years ago | Reply @Khawar Sher: Dear friend developing nuke is not a great thing; developing a nation and stable society is a great thing. stop equalling great Pakistan conept just because it has nukes....poepl do not need them at the cost of their living and loss of their pride. Pakistan's rank is a pity but a reality and the nation and its people must stop indulging in fools paradise.

Dr S | 13 years ago | Reply I am an Indian and I am sick and tired of smug Indians here. Go and do some charity/volunteer work in your area. Seriously!

Nazir Habib | 13 years ago | Reply @Shahrukh kazmi: Totally agree with you, my brother. Salams to you always.

asim | 13 years ago | Reply Its no surprise that Indian government has hired a bunch of lunatics to rant about Pakistan on every website in the world.

BruteForce | 13 years ago | Reply @Jawad U Rehman, "Objectively it is no worse or better than, say, India or China." http://www.faqs.org/shareranks/836,TOP-ABUSERS-OF-HUMAN-RIGHTS-BY-COUNTRY Pakistan is rated 5th Worst Human rights abuser, India 62nd! http://www.news-world.us/pics/2010/08/22/60-worst-countries-in-the-world/#more-1696 Pakistan: 10th Worst. India: Not even on the list. http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/WoW/2010/WorstOfTheWorst2010.pdf Above is a paper on Worst of the Worst Countries. Please read about Pakistan and India and improve your knowledge, which has been largely filled by the Urdu Media, I am guessing. "The overwhelming source of the world’s refugees: NO" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofcountriesbyrefugee_population Pakistan:12th India: 83rd!!!! So again you were woefully wrong. http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/imm_ref-immigration-refugees Pakistan: 4th India: 21st. Again. You. Wrong. "Suffer low or negative economic growth: NO" http://www.indexmundi.com/pakistan/gdprealgrowth_rate.html Pakistan hasn't touched 7.5% even once in the past decade. Heck its average rate is around 3%. "populations are more likely to be poor and malnourished: Partly YES" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofcountriesbypercentageofpopulationsufferingfrom_undernourishment India: 34th Pakistan: 30th. The truth in your post. "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofcountriesbyliteracy_rate" India: 74% literacy Pakistan: 58%. "die young or suffer chronic illness: NO " http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ListofcountriesbyHumanDevelopmentIndex Again India is ahead of Pakistan. I've given you nothing but facts. Care to open up your mind and come to your senses?

vimal raina | 13 years ago | Reply it is a CIA/ZIONIST/HINDU conspiracy not to allow Pakistan to top this list. DOWN WITH INDIA! DOWN WITH USA! DOWN WITH ZIONISM!

Mark | 13 years ago | Reply @JR: Honestly, you guys talk so much nonsense about India that you'll never be taken seriously even if they do actually cause some harm. Do they have the old "Boy Who Cried Wolf" story over there? If not, you should look it up. Preemptive: no I'm not Indian.

vasan | 13 years ago | Reply Fahmid Sheikh: Dont believe anything from the west. Why only statistics or media reports . Why believe their weapons and control systems.They may have planted logic not to function when Pak fights india, if at all. Why believe their dollars, they may give fake currencies., Why believe their scientific discoveries, They may go against Islamic traditions. Why believe their aeroplanes and ships. they may be gas guzzlers. Why dont you guys read the full report and improve on the parameters by which Pakistan is rated as a failing state?. Why bother where India stands or Srilanka stands. It is their botheration. If Pak plays the one-up-manship all the times with INdia, it is not going anywhere while India minds its own affairs ie economic growth story

Farhan | 13 years ago | Reply I agree, there is not much sanity left in the country but at the same time, you can't call it curtains. I mean come on ... a number 12 failed state does not produce a gem like Coke Studio! Watch the show and you feel the country is alive, vibrant, soulful, peaceful. A number 12 failed state does not win gold medals in asian games, and does not make it to cricket world cup semi finals despite having marked as no-go zone for international cricket. I guess we are badly ripped apart between extremely gruesome and ultimately amazing.

Dr. Saleem Siddiqi | 13 years ago | Reply Qaatil bhee whohee - Munsif Bhee whohee - - - - - - - - - The present state of affairs is because of the courtesy of US. Instead of helping and re-dressing our difficulties, they are showing / propogating us high in this list. I term this list highly one sided - thanks to foreign jewish Media. Let us not bogged down by this US generated report and look ahead to re-build Pakistan. Regards Dr. Saleem Siddiqi Johannesburg South Africa

Raheem | 13 years ago | Reply In 1947 our population (West Pak,) was 30 million today it is 180 million. The population grew by 6 times !!! Think hard about. What does mean. Each farmer now has 1/6 less land. Water tables are shrinking with as such out water. Think of the damage to the environment from how intensively we are using the land. Land in many parts is accumulating salt from bad irrigation. Each person would now be 6 times richer. Karachi is now a mega-slum. You should see on youtube a film of Karachi in 1950. If you have a brain think what we could have become you would weep. We failed big time in population. WE HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN 1947 AND WE BLEW IT. But the the depressing thing is failed in many many other areas. There is no need list further. I wish the illiterates who are posting here would see the ground realities.

Rizwan saeed | 13 years ago | Reply Lollywood presents "I am number 12"

Fahmid Sheikh | 13 years ago | Reply The ground realities of India and Pakistan are much the same, nothing at all from the West shall be believed, on top of anything, are the two things that should never, ever be believed: statistics and media reports.

mohammed+abbasi | 13 years ago | Reply all we need is to get the mullahs to rule us fully and we will not just be the top on Earth but possibly in this quadrant on the galaxy

Modasar | 13 years ago | Reply Islamic leaders and Islamic strict citizens of Paksitan ruined Pakistan by only getting islamic education and bad behavior against Women of pakistan and also not allowing women getting modern education. I feel sorry for Pakistan but really i can't do anything but to watch pakistan go down.

proud_yankee | 13 years ago | Reply @Jawad U Rehman: "Post 9/11 Pakistan went through a 5 year period of growth averaging 7.5% GDP growth. The per capita GDP of Pakistan is the same as that of India" Please my humble and earnest request, prove this statement from any international reports otherwise stop living in denial and stop defending your sorry state with such fake figures and claims. As a concerned Indian I would be more glad if you guys prosper so that my idiotic mantri people stop diverting our money on arms and put rural development in full throttle. Also I would not use this article to laugh at sorry state of Pakistan. It would be an act of lower minded person to pick on someone's mis-fortune. But I look at India in this list , even though at 76 I wonder why we are in this list and what we could and should do to come out of it. That is how I will focus on improving certain social conditions to make country more progressive. Will it be insulting or unfair as an Indian to ask my Pakistani brother to have the same view about their ranking. Irrespective of what the rank is 1 or 100th , or how biased the report is, shouldn't we be invariably trying to improvise so that we are no longer member to this list ? Why put brakes to any creativity and ideas by starting to compare with the neighbors ? And this is comment and request not just for Pakistan , but for India too. We share a lot of history and there is lot in common, if we work together instead of bleeding each other I am certain we will do wonders.

Akbar | 13 years ago | Reply @Babar: TOP, you mean number one position?

proud_yankee | 13 years ago | Reply @tungalahore: and let me guess you would know better about Indians happiness index, right ?

Thinker | 13 years ago | Reply @Jawad U Rehman: Nice try buddy.. u just need 2 practice more,one day you'll look like n educated person :)

Mirza | 13 years ago | Reply Dear all who responded to my post/question: I am sorry, but my question was rhetorical and not serious. Was trying to be funny but failed I guess! Being a proud citizen of a failed nation, I failed even in making a joke! Mirza, USA

Maria | 13 years ago | Reply @Extremely Tight Dhoti: You Indians never miss a beat do you. Don't worry one day we'll return the favour. As for Kashmir, you'll see that only Kashmiris will determine their own future and the United Nations resolution where we can choose our own destiny will be implemented.

Kasim, Lahore | 13 years ago | Reply @JR: My Dear Brother, Our question is about why We are at 12? What to be done to improve further? Not to talk about some one else. I am asking my Child why he is not securing 1st rank. If he replies that Next door boy is also secured less rank than Next street boy, then will any one agree? Don't worry about others.. Let us improve on your own.. Our aim should be above than 30th rank by next year.. Not in worst 50 in next 2 years.. This is positive attitude.. Insallah will achieve the same..

Nobody | 13 years ago | Reply @Babar: With all due respect, the integration of "Islam" into EVERY SINGLE ASPECT of Pakistan is part of the reason Pakistan is where it is today. And to dismiss the 'youth talk' for secular nations is absurd. This country depends on it's future generations. Be a realist, not an idealist. Cheers.

Nobody | 13 years ago | Reply @Hedgefunder: Hypocrisy thy name is Hedgefunder. You parade around spending countless hours telling Pakistanis to worry about Pakistan not India, on a Pakistani newspaper.... seems to me you have a similar problem of not leaving people or a country to their/its own devices. Don't worry your pretty little head about what Pakistanis are doing. Cheers.

Nobody | 13 years ago | Reply @Hedgefunder: Feed the people? If allocation of $$ was used as a tool to measure rank on this list, God knows MANY other nations would have surpassed us, including India considering it has unparalleled levels of poverty and starving people, yet here we have a nation spending on ridiculous things like their space program, in hopes of some day making it to the moon....?? Pointing fingers at nation for irresponsible spending is a joke. More to the point, Pakistan's current situation is due to a number of factors, the main ones being crappy governing and leaders who don't give a rat's a$$ about the people of Pakistan or the nation's future.

Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply Though i hate the system, establishment, army etc but still i love my country and the people.

amjad | 13 years ago | Reply There is nothing more to add to the sentiments expressed by most of the readers. Just, hope the people in power will take this serious, come out clean, and make this country and its people proud. Is it too much to ask for???

G. Din | 13 years ago | Reply @hassan: "...India is the ONLY country in the world that is surrounded by ONLY Failed States on all its sides !!" Imagine if that were not so, if all those "failed" states pulled their own weights and helped each other in the process, China would not have had even a prayer! Imagine!

JR | 13 years ago | Reply @xyz: The world should open up the eyes. If India is neighbouring around all the failed states, then isn't this a country who should be held responsible for the regional blood shed. People of the world, it was Indial ,who trained the most ruthless terrorist , who calle themselves the Tigers. And subsequently killed a prominent prime minister of India "Rajive Ghandi ". And it was India that instigated the thousand of bangladeshi nationals to be killed during the separation from Pakistan. And further more, their are thousand of armed terrorist in Kashmir. All these are due to the under-hand work in the region. So people of the world, open up your eyes and your brain and think that, who should be held responsible for aiding and abiding the regional unrest in south asia . JR

shaik jaleel | 13 years ago | Reply The Chief Justice should take su motto case and appoint a judicial commission to find out the truth as to why Pakistan failed to get the first rank.

G. Din | 13 years ago | Reply @UMAIR: "...For me Pakistan is not a Failed state but a mis-managed state." Trust me it gives no joy to us Indians, but this kind of quibbling by Pakistanis is pointless. Yours has been recognized as a "FAILED" state precisely because it is a "mismanaged" state. That means only one thing: you have arrived!

Jawad U Rehman | 13 years ago | Reply Let us leave all sentiments apart, and do an objective analysis whether this ranking is fair to Pakistan. Using the Foreign Policy Magazine's own definition, a failed state is defined as: "They are settings for the worst human rights abuses, the overwhelming source of the world's refugees, and the places where most U.N. peacekeepers must go. Home to humanity's "bottom billion," they suffer low or negative economic growth, and their populations are more likely to be poor and malnourished; experience pervasive insecurity; endure gender discrimination; lack access to education, basic health care, and modern technology; and die young or suffer chronic illness." Is Pakistan.... Let us see that for Pakistan which of the components of the definition apply: 1. Settings for the worst human rights abuses: NO (While Pakistan has its cases of human rights violations, it is certainly not the WORST among them. Objectively it is no worse or better than, say, India or China. 2. The overwhelming source of the world's refugees: NO (Pakistan in fact is providing home to the highest number of refugees in the world 3. The place where most U.N. peacekeepers must go: NO (Pakistan does not have a single UN peacekeeper. The UNMOGIP is an observer group, not a peacekeeper, on both sides of Kashmir border) 4. Suffer low or negative economic growth: NO (Pakistan has continued to grow its GDP positively throughout various crises. Post 9/11 Pakistan went through a 5 year period of growth averaging 7.5% GDP growth. The per capita GDP of Pakistan is the same as that of India, in spite of starting out at about 50% of it 64 years ago) 5. populations are more likely to be poor and malnourished: Partly YES (but again nothing compared to Sub-Saharan Africa, and not much different than India) 6. experience pervasive insecurity: YES (This one is undisputedly true at present) 7. endure gender discrimination: Partially YES (again it is there but not majorly different than India or others) 8. lack access to education, basic health care, and modern technology: NO (I know a lot of you will scream at this one. But the fact is that the basic healthcare, modern technology (especially mobile phones), and education are within reach of majority of Pakistanis) 9. die young or suffer chronic illness: NO (Pakistan has average lifespan of 67 years. Higher than India and many poor countries in the world. Does not suffer from a major chronic illness epidemic like AIDS etc) So, you be the judge ! Is it fair or not. I say the ranking does not paint the right picture.

Reality | 13 years ago | Reply @Khawar Sher: When state comes to collapse, it doesnot care where you have nukes or not...USSR is a great example for you dear. Pakistan is getting weaker in its administrative capacity....who cares with security dimensions, when u have internal enemies..... Pakistan has number of ungoverned spaces (Tribal areas), does Nukes make them govern...we have social issues...does nukes make to resolve all socio-economic crisis... We need to be realist and honest with ourself..

tungalahore | 13 years ago | Reply putting china an iran below india considering tht people living in these countries live a much more happier and better life than ordnary indians!!!explains the biased reporting by foreign policy magazine!!!so called supporters of democracy

rehmat | 13 years ago | Reply @3footninja: It looks like Pak was in 9th place in 2007 when Musharraf left Then it came to 10th place in 2008 and 2009 and finally it is now out of the top 10 list. So in fact there has been improvement under the civilian rule.

Haris | 13 years ago | Reply anti american = high on the american compiled failed index list. india = kiss american feet therefore not considered failed state

Mirza | 13 years ago | Reply @rashid: If this is the fault of democracy then Pakistan should have been not even in this list, as it is ruled more by the army and much less by democracy. You logic that it is the fault of democracy in Pakistan is the same as some hater of Islam would say that it is the fault of Islam and not of the people of Pakistan. To support this they give the examples of democratic countries are better in every sense than religious and Muslim countries. Please do not blame the failure of a few to democracy, independence or free society. It is the corrupt and evil mindset that is responsible. If there were true democracy in Pakistan, OBL would not be living there. In fact he was living and settled during Mush's military rule. Demand truth and not secret talks by the army about the presence of OBL. Lie is the mother of all evils as Islam teaches. However, getting the truth out in Pakistan is like pulling out the teeth. To hide the truth their attack dogs would call you names and agents of foreing powers. Lie, refute, excuses and conspiracy theories are the only answer one gets from the failure of the army, which consumes most resources. Pakistan's slide is not not recent, it is an ongoing process. The only things that has not changed is the mindset and mullah/military alliance. The puppet leaders come and go but this alliance remains intact.

Yasir | 13 years ago | Reply @Mirza: Read the article carefully my friend

TruthIsGood | 13 years ago | Reply We do hate some pakistanis but only those who intend to harm us. Coming from same land that stands divided now, I believe a normal average pakistani also don't hate us.

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply @asim: Which conditions of masses are you talking about, that is better than in India?? The one's who are robbing your nation , and can not even provide you basic energy, education, heatlhcare Etc..... Have ever been to India to know the Facts as to the 300-350 million Middle Class population, whose lifestyle is no different than in any western countries if not better!!! Go back to School, and do some some serious Googling to understand how the world has moved on, while you still live in your cocoon!!!

Babar | 13 years ago | Reply @Zeeeee: Pakistan is an islamic republic. Hence inshallah before everything, inshallah after everything. Leave the youth talk for secular countries. In this country everything starts and ends with islam. Hence Inshallah. Q.E.D.

Bangash | 13 years ago | Reply Any news on Internet is regularly polluted by impotent Indians who need their daily dose of Pakistan-bashing.

Sakht Khurdra | 13 years ago | Reply @johnny_bravo: doesn't it look like a planned media war against state of Pakistan...???????

Sakht Khurdra | 13 years ago | Reply @hassan: because India is busy in making sure that its neighbours fail through RAW, Negative politics, water theft and malice filled planning... bye the way it is vikram or ashwin or malhotra but you are certainly not hassan

Roflcopter | 13 years ago | Reply subhanallah

W.A | 13 years ago | Reply

 Is there ONE person in pakistan who is ready to take the blame.

shahid khan | 13 years ago | Reply we are listening such rubbish reports from last four years that very soon Pakistan is going to disintegrate but all these report could not prove its worth. We are a nation of 180 million people with strong religious relationship. Nothing is going to happen with this country Western and USA media is making such rubbish reports.

ap | 13 years ago | Reply @Indian: Bro what does dark humour have to do for you to get it? Only reinforces the stereotype that we Indians have a chip on our shoulder and do not have a sense of humour.

asim | 13 years ago | Reply @Hedgefunder: What are you talking about? India and Indians hate us and will do everything in their power to destroy my country. We have to answer their rants. The condition of the masses in Pakistan is much better than the poor and hungry Indians. The streets and roads are in a better condition than the Indian roads and Pakistan is much cleaner.

Bangash | 13 years ago | Reply A major achivement of GHQ/ISI and their policies of Strategic Depth. Well done !!!!

* | 13 years ago | Reply These are totally biased reports...China has empowered world market more than india..still their ranks can tell you on what basis these reports have been written...i would say "bounded rationality" Funny thing is everyday we are seeing a new article defaming Pakistan only...i dont think person who wrote this know the meaning of FAILED... Pakistaniz are living their life with all luxuries..besides some culprits dont want them to have it..thats why exagerrating stuff related to Pakistan...and yeah how can they even write something related to counties where they have put their lots of investment..e.g India

Zeeeee | 13 years ago | Reply @Babar: Why u used Inshallah for this......not good man . Youth are the future of this country and we have to save this country....

Feroz | 13 years ago | Reply All credit must go to the Military / Mullah alliance for making a promising country into a haven for terrorists. When there are so many guns(legal and illegal) loosely floating around, rivers of blood are bound to flow. "Religion is the opium of the masses". The citizens senses have become so dull with the overdose that they are no longer demanding their basic rights of clean air, food, shelter and justice. Now poor people think India, America, Israel are the reason for all their misfortunes, such is the power of propaganda. Without US Aid the country has the potential to climb quickly to TOP position.

safir | 13 years ago | Reply in what based they tells this on debt then america is no1 right now on think tank talks so thats all day lies what other base maybe probeganda.base

ayyube | 13 years ago | Reply This because of involvement in US's unnecessary war on terrorism. Pakistan has paid much more in this US's war. I totally disagree with arguments that Pakistan will top the list. If we could develop better relationship with Afghanistan and Iran, Pakistan will go down the list rapidly. In fact, our neighboring India is funding Afghan warriors and some of tribesman in our tribal areas and Baluchistan to destabilize the country. But, her days have been counted down. The game will change soon. Although US is not interested in giving any role to Pakistan in Afghanistan, but the brotherhood between the people of both countries can not be reduced. The people of both sides will be the winner in the end.

Shams | 13 years ago | Reply i am not a bit setisfied with foriegn lists and results regarding my sweet home. I just think this is a policy to include Pakistan in the most deadliest zones and to capture our Nuclear. Thats it

Jawad U Rehman | 13 years ago | Reply This blob of news and related news headline on ET says it all.... Pakistan ranks 12th on failed states index: Report

Pakistan ranks 3rd on list of most dangerous countries for women
Pakistan 10th on list of deadliest places for journalists: Report

Where is the leadership to smell the coffee and get us out of this mess?

Pradeep | 13 years ago | Reply It is amazing that Pakistanis state that having nuclear weapons is a reason for not being a failed state. North Korea has nuclear weapons. How many Pakistanis on this forum agree that IT IS NOT a failed state? Probably none.

hassan | 13 years ago | Reply Another curious point: most of the failed states seem to have one thing in common....Islam...did anyone notice that?

Rock | 13 years ago | Reply @Amer Khan: You said "On the comment of Ashok on ‘volatile neighbor’ let me say that whatever fuss we have in SEA, it is thanks to our neighbor, India" Are you still giving credit to India for your all problems? Please continue doing this. One day your entire country loose power of introspection. That day you be No 1 in the failed state list. I think you want to achieve the No 1 status right?

Aadersh | 13 years ago | Reply Are we supposed to believe this crap vomited by western personals??

Cosmo | 13 years ago | Reply @Khawar Sher: Exactly, but they ought to be able to steel it.

sajid | 13 years ago | Reply not to worry bros,very soon india will also be in top 10 when we conquer them and broadcast pakistan radio from new delhi.remember ghazwa e hind has been prophesied.then we will march west and capture israel and liberate our palestinian brothers. yours truly, General Zaid Hamid.

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply @asim: Forget India , if i were you i would be very worried about my own Yard!!! Why are you actually worried about India? Leave them to their devices and why are you not at all concerned about your own country?? This is the Problem with the country and its people too!! It is your country and you are not worried about it !! You people have got too used to blaming everyone but yourselves and been too dependant on Foreign Aid too! Is it any wonder that your Nation is known as Global Begger!!!! Where is your Honour Brigade ?

johnny_bravo | 13 years ago | Reply Some of Pakistan's recent accomplishments: No. 3 on list of most dangerous for women No. 4 on list of most corrupt No. 12 on list of failed states No. 10 on list of deadliest for journalists All credit to those who are part of the establishment

Arslan | 13 years ago | Reply lol, who has seen the whole map ? There are just 7-8 (White) countries claimed as being 'sustainable' states, right ? =D

Arslan | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistan has been claimed as a 'failed state' since Nehru, and India in the 80s/90s, when Naxalites/Khalistan insurgencies were at their peak. The latter, thanks to sound economic policy, is not viewed as such (I talked of India as our friendly neighbours are getting over-excited) So even if some Western pandits put Pakistan at n°1, it's not a determinism: just get rid of these incapable leaders.

Amer Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Well to my Indian friends especially... 1. please be patient and see that this list is published by a US authority and they see this list from a US perspective. 2. I have been to at least 5 countries in the top 20 list and trust me things are not as bad as they are depicted here 3. PK's promotion in the list is primarily because of being a Nuclear state 4. Where is Libya & Syria in the top 20 5. Where are the dictatorship / kingdoms in the list and we all know how they tumble down when the wrong things happen 6. THis list is usually updated on the basis of US's foreign policy every now and then and also used as pressure tactics 7. On the comment of Ashok on 'volatile neighbor' let me say that whatever fuss we have in SEA, it is thanks to our neighbor, India

UMAIR | 13 years ago | Reply @QuranVsHadith For me there is difference in being failed and being mis-managed. why we are mis-managed because we are resourceful and acquire all the basic necessities for existing in this modern age. why we are not failed state because if we get right (well-managed) direction and wake up as soon as possible then we can get over the current crisis in a couple of year. while agreeing with some of your points i must add that we are leading towads failure but not a failed state.

Mehreen | 13 years ago | Reply @bulbul: Try before saying so!

Faisal cheema | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistan is improving, i am hopeful. Future is very bright for Pakistan and world we see it at the top.

Pakistanian. | 13 years ago | Reply I have a humble request to Tribune - to pls make sure they censor comments of people - its a news paper or a facebook page? All these things add to the country being perceived as it is already in a negative state - its not a blogging website, its a news website isnt it? I cannot understand how informal language, slang, racist remarks are published on the website and the website used for personal attacks on ech others comments - please make sure the media had the responsibility in censoring what is inapproriate - just by merely adding a disclaimer at the end by not bearing any responsibility of any comments really responsible media?

asim | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistan is not a failed state. The report is politically motivated. India is as much a failed state as Pakistan. They have the highest number of poor in the world. There are countless independence movements in India and some of these might actually become successful.

LoneLiberal PK | 13 years ago | Reply Well, this isn't exactly news..

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply @kazi jawed akhter: Here is the link which you really need to read in order for some good dose of enlightenment!! Then tell me as to who is day dreaming? When you read this pls ensure you are actually out of that little Cocoon of Denials too! http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/06/20/thebrutaltruth

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply @hassan: That is exactly the reason that India makes its business to keep an Eye on them and ensure that the Borders are managed and maintained too!!!

faircnahce | 13 years ago | Reply @Raja: Mr. A Raja stop doing this. we don't know why every Pakistani worship China and always prefer china as a blanket to cover Pakistan's weaknesses.

rashid | 13 years ago | Reply democracy is the best revenge yay they taking revenge from the nation go zardari go zardari ab achar daalo is democracay ka!!!!!!!!!!

neha | 13 years ago | Reply we have improved and moved out of top 10. Good achievement but need to compete with india and come in 50's in next few years

M> S. Shafique | 13 years ago | Reply With so many comments about the poor ranking of Pakistan being a failed state, it sounds a bit strange to say otherwise. However, in my opinion, Pakistan is not a failed state but as a nation we have failed miserably. fault lies with us and us alone! Had we struggled to bring people of having excellence in knowledge, skills,contributions, honesty, credibility and devoted leadership, If we are destined to have leaders and institutions otherwise, we are responsible because we just talk but we are not willing to do right things when opportunity comes to change things for better. Either we do not vote and if we do vote; we vote for selfish reasons only. You reap only that material that we plant; don't expect miracles. Had we set system right and worked hard to build this country, Pakistan's would have been termed as California of Asia instead of being dubbed as Somalia of Asia. Pakistan and Israel came on the world screen almost at the same time; Israel made desert to flourish fruits and vegetables for export and we made the most fertile land of Pakistan to flourish and grow suicide bombers to the local and foreign markets. The fact is that we have failed Pakistan as we believe in short-cuts to be rich over-night without making any efforts what-so-ever. We talk all abstract things and we have never tried to be a nation and result is quite obvious.

Udaya Bose | 13 years ago | Reply @malik: Slap in the face of India !! They were not found fit to be included in this list !!! As an Indian I am devastated. In spite of such strong & friendly (brotherly?) support from our biggest South Asian neighbour, we have again failed to make it to this coveted and exclusive fraternity.

vasan | 13 years ago | Reply If u rely on violence and religion for state objectives, this is what happens. Brothers, no need to lose heart. You wont reach no 1 and aim to do better incrementally . Good luck.

Haris Chaudhry | 13 years ago | Reply Slap in the face of those that still prophesize "sovereignty" over prosperity. Slap on the face of those Ghairatmand Platoon ( or is it brigade) who want to slam the door shut on all those that are feeding our ailing economy. I suspect that the only reason we are not on the top of the list is because of the US and IMF aid... Just think about it. If you take away the aid from the hand that feeds us ( but we would love to bite it anyway) then we wont be able to keep the economy going even for a few months. For those that shout off the top of their lungs to banish USA from Pakistan soil, they must remember that without that aid, we will be history so thank your lucky stars and Uncle Sam.. North Korea does not get any aid and yet is just next to Pakistan on that list. Pakistan is effectively a failed state where the establishment, politicians and majority of the masses are sleep walking to their way to the oblivion. Long live the armed forces of Pakistan and its deep throat. Without you, we would be a far prosperous country like some of our neighbours.. A collective shame for the nation.. Aitum bum zindabad.. Amreeka murdabad.. The land of the pure and fanatics..!! Haris Chaudhry

Bilal | 13 years ago | Reply I wonder why all the sources of reference have to be US or European analyst...of course the govts there don't like us...one major reason being that they don't want to see a select few of their true 'strategically' important allies to be nuclear powers. A nuclear armed Pakistan just does not fall well into their analysis which takes sucess as a measure of how conveniently they can bomb, invade or oppress nations around the world. I'm sure the western analyst are very uncomfortable with a muslim country with an independednt nuclear aresenal with strong links to middle east, central and south asia.... One easy way for improving our ranking would be to give up on our nuclear weapons and blindly tow american policy.... I'm of course not saying that we don't have major problems but only if this war and invasion were to end, we would see some normalcy and progress we can as we made Pakistan from scratch. And then we would be indifferent about such ratings and rankings....

Shali | 13 years ago | Reply These all reports have an aim to misguide the world. It does not have any aim except to defame and to damage the image of Pakistan before the whole world. Pakistan is the first Islamic country which has achieved the title of atomic power. How may is possible that an Islamic nation of the third world could achieve the capability of atomic technology. All such types of efforts have the same target, whether by publishing that fake reports or by supporting ans using terrorist factors.

Javed | 13 years ago | Reply @Moise: If you check old newspaper clippings you will find that Sri Lanka has accused Pakistan of interfering in its internal affairs quite a few times. It has also accused us of supplying arms to the Tamils in the past. They have never acknowledged any positive support which you have been talking about.

Ammar | 13 years ago | Reply Ohh sorry, we failed to secure 1st position =( But worry not mates, we are coming to challenge you at 1st position, we are little behind. We are gonna put more ingredients - corruption, income inequality, social distortion, poverty, unemployment, terrorism and sectarian - I bet you, we'll be at first!

Salman | 13 years ago | Reply @3footninja: Not really. Thank the Pakistan Army.

Salman | 13 years ago | Reply @Zubair: Portugal and Greece not being failed states has nothing to do with them being in Europe. Portugal and Greece may have economic problems, they may even have failing economies, but they are proper secular democracies with functioning institutions and rule of law. In other words they are a world away from failed states like Pakistan and Afghanistan where the only law is that of the jungle.

kazi jawed akhter | 13 years ago | Reply Who fails passes the states.Beyond all predictions and fore tellings Pakistan stands like a sold rock.How a state with nuclear capabilities,can be called a fail state.Who will check the credentials of the people calling Pakistan a fail state.What are the yard sticks.The people who call Pakistan a fail state are the day dreamers.

hassan | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma and Sri Lanka...... India is the ONLY country in the world that is surrounded by ONLY Failed States on all its sides !!

Haseena | 13 years ago | Reply Gilani, Kayani, Haqqani are RAW MOSSAD agents who are taking Pakistan to stone age

AD | 13 years ago | Reply No State is a failed State.They are actually struggling states.Don't fall to the so called intellectuals of west, who have nothing to do except making new bombs and creating word/excel reports.If Pak is a fail state why don't America ask Canada for help in Afghanistan.Don't get down, get up and stand tall.

ashwin | 13 years ago | Reply Why does it have to be India vs Pakistan always.Pakistan is at 12th position now 2 positions better then previously.As for China being behind India HR practices of China and general transparency in it's dealing lead these kinda ratings.

Ammar | 13 years ago | Reply Ohh damn, we failed to secure 1st position, sorry world we are little behind, but worry not next year we'll beat you!

Karmon ka Phal | 13 years ago | Reply @Moise: It's time to stop flattering yourself. SL did it all by themselves due to no help from you guys. We all know what happens when your military sticks its nose into something.

pkpolitics | 13 years ago | Reply Stupid Generals and Corrupt Politicians are responsible for this. In coming yrs hundreds of thousands of new kids will be coming out for jobs bit there are no jobs, guess what will happen then? The state has lost the basic concept of its existence, it has now become a parasite living on our blood. This failed system needsbto be changed.

Rehan | 13 years ago | Reply Does anyone else find it funny that while the report specifically stated that Pakistan's Army and Intelligence services are behind Pakistan's downfall, 'people' here are actually blaming the civilian government. Guys, the government would be lucky to be allowed to make one policy decision a year by the khakis!!

well-wisher | 13 years ago | Reply @Shahrukh kazmi: Do you remember USSR?? History can be guide to shape nation's future. But Pakistan is on path of changing history itself. Future is only thing they dont care about....

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply @Tariq: Well it seems some of your fellow countrymen are crying out loud about not being Number 1 on this List!!!!

Rafe | 13 years ago | Reply didn't surprise me at all ... one of the achievements of the current democratic system which they will mention in their next election manifesto .... what they had done previously and people will still vote them .... all stakeholders are responsible including opposition that were sacrificing all the developments for just streamlining of the democracy.... i wonder if this country be eaten by all these politicians and our defense intuitions by giving chances to all political parties one by one and by that time Pakistan no longer exist .....

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply @Zubair: The defination of Failed State is just not based on Economy alone , it consists of Safety & Security too, add Law & Order to it for good helping also !!! Lastly a fair measure of Governance too!!!

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply @A.Khan: Which Economy are you talking about?? One that is dependant on AID and LOANS!!!!

Kasim | 13 years ago | Reply @Raja: Don't over estimate China !! They also have lot of lapses.

lovepk84 | 13 years ago | Reply Controversy against Pakistan this document is developed by the Americans Policy makers. America is Number 1 state in criminal activities.

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply @Khawar Sher: A Failed State has only got Nukes due to theft of technology from europe, and the main reason for being on this list is that the resources that should have been used to develop the nation were squandered on building nukes!!! Shame that they can't feed the People!

Chickken tikka | 13 years ago | Reply Still there 12 nations "above" us. Can we appoint a commission to study how we can reach the No.1 spot by next year? This looks much easier than getting No.1 ranking in test cricket?

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply @malik: Yes ! Congrats to you, for being on this ! May you and your people be proud of your position on this list, Just have a look at your Competitors on this List, glad its you and not anyone of significance !!!! If you still have'nt got the Message, then may i suggest that you are on this List for all the wrong reasons !!!! If you make it to Number 1 on this List then you have really hit the Jackpot and the Mullahs will be in Presidency In Islamabad.

QuranVsHadith | 13 years ago | Reply @UMAIR: Mismanaged = Failed Stop trying to sugar coat it and bury your head in the sand. Who is responsible for the mismanagement???? The rest of the world? India? America? Who? Who dictates policy and allows extreemism to grow rampant and unchecked? Who looks the other way when a man beats a woman or a child is raped? WHO????? Pakistani's that's WHO! Take responsibilty and stop acting like children. If Pakistan wants to be taken seriously they need to ACT like adults. NOT whining children who blame someone else for everything wrong.

Amer | 13 years ago | Reply There is no denying that Pakistan is in bad shape. This is because of many factors, the biggest being the faliure of leadership. But this listing is flawed as well, just look at the criterion for the listing and you will know what I mean. Again, Indian trolls leave no stone unturned for throwing crap at Pakistan, then they try to assure the readers on these pages that they have no ill intentions! Rubbish!

Asim+Ali | 13 years ago | Reply The ranking really reflects on the leadership of this country, than anything else. I am surprised that they have managed to be above 11 other countries. We knew it from the day PPP got into power, that the leadership is corrupt and will be a dismal failure. It has turned out to be a dismal failure. So why would anyone be surprised to see the reflection of the leadership at the bottom of the ladder. This is exactly how the leadership is. Right at the bottom.

QuranVsHadith | 13 years ago | Reply @Sunny Deol Pakistani: Their own people failed them. Until Pakistan stops putting their hand out and begging and cleans up this place they deserve what they get.

QuranVsHadith | 13 years ago | Reply @malik: What the hell...lol you cannot even read this SHORT article!!!!! "whereas India ranks 76 on the list" Damnit....and what is scarier is the fact that you are not even the only one to make this comment!!!! No WONDER....when this is an example of the average intelligence in this country....cannot even read a short aticle and have to blabber and throw out comments about others.....how PITIFUL! Pakistan deserves this ranking....because it is SOOOOOO TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

truth | 13 years ago | Reply @Raja : China has just made quike money by doing cheap exports and reverse engineering in some areas by coping from west. It still needs to walk long mile on other fronts for truly becoming a developed state.

Indian | 13 years ago | Reply @Sohaib: Salaam Sohaib miyan, i think terrorism, religious extermism arent part of your list ?

QuranVsHadith | 13 years ago | Reply @Khawar Sher: Ha ha....you think that Pak "DEVELOPED A NUKE" They BOUGHT the technology....lol How dilusional can yuo be. These damned text books need to be burned

Extremely Tight Dhoti | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistan's Kashmir obsession has brought it here. Make no mistake about it. And the irony is that it is no closer to forcing India to giv up Kashmir than it was 60 years ago

dude | 13 years ago | Reply you have one year to be first on the list.. work hard..all the best.

Karim Alam | 13 years ago | Reply @Mirza: Bangladesh at 25, Nepal at 27 , Srilanka at 29 while India is not in the list of top 60

Asad | 13 years ago | Reply 10th to 12th? im impressed... should have been the other way around...

Sohaib | 13 years ago | Reply Nothin' to feel sab over these rating, since this all based on ''biasness''. Do they have got any evidence to prove India at 76th rank, can they justify it? Certainly no, it is all international conspiracy to grant the 'steeering' of this region in the hands of india. Multiple curses are hitting the people of India; poverty, racial biasness, seperation movements, and lot more. Nothing is bad in Pkaistan excert politics........................

ashok sai | 13 years ago | Reply @Indian: on malik He wrote it in sargastic sense.

Junaid Naseer Faroqui | 13 years ago | Reply The romance of denial would never let us understand and convict that we are almost doomed. Even if the neighboring states are close by in the list, does it justify to remain on the position we are? Let's not even blame one political party let it be PPP because around 60% of or resources are in Punjab and that is being governed by N-league. Nukes!! they have given us nothing but more insecurity. This is the only bomb in the world that rather than safeguarding us being itself safeguard by us. Irony, isn't it?

Tariq | 13 years ago | Reply Being a Pakistani i still don't understand why people are more concern about India rather than their own country, India is far ahead of us. The real problems are our corrupt leaders and I am afraid that if the same regime continues to rule the country than we are not far away from getting the number one slot.

ali | 13 years ago | Reply We are positioned at number 12 because of Jew and Indian lobby otherwise we should have been placed number one.

Karmon ka Phal | 13 years ago | Reply Totally unfair ! This is prejudice of the worst kind !! No country deserved the No.1 position more than Pakistan !!! This is a conspiracy by RAW/CIA and MOSSAD to deny first place to Pakistan and instead place it in 12th position.

Shahrukh kazmi | 13 years ago | Reply Learn people Learn We are a failed state and we are the Nuclear power, we are failed state but yet we have the fifth largest army in the world, we also have the largest irrigation system in the world, we too generate the highest amount of Zakat fund if you compare with other rich muslim countries.We are the 2nd largest producers of Buffalo Milk 3rd Largest Producers of Apricot and chickpea and 4th largest producers of Cotton.We have won 4 World Cups in Hockey and One in Cricket and if we talk about squash Jhansher khan won 8 world open and on the other hand Jehangir khan won 6 world open title. try to think something positive once in a while

Moise | 13 years ago | Reply This failed state recently helped Sri Lanka rid of Indian and US (Using Raj Rajaratnam) backed Tamil terrorists.

Gilbert Cell | 13 years ago | Reply I find nothing true about this report or Pakistan being at 12. I go outside and I find it nothing less than amusement how the vast majority of this country is still enjoying the luxuries of the life. You go to any market, any shopping mall and people are buying, buying and just buying stuff. No havoc,no suicide attack, no bomb blast has ever prompted people to stay in their homes. The restaurants, the banquet halls, the concert halls, the cinemas are still full of people, in fact overcrowded despite of all this 'poverty' or 'security threats'. Hundreds of thousand of new cars make their ways on the roads every where.The towns are expanding. DHA's, Bahria's, Askari's and every other such scheme is expanding like the bank balance of the President of this country. Millions have been Internally displaced because of terrorism and floods yet everything seemed to have settled down. Initially there used to be an hour's load shedding, now it has reached to as many as 12 hours a day in cities. What to talk of villages. Yet no one cares. No one gives a damn. People are still eating everywhere. still buying stuff. still buying cars, generators, petrol, Air conditioners and all the other luxurious items. If this is a failed state, there must be a change for the meaning of the word 'failed' in the dictionary. Better yet, make a separate dictionary for Pakistan.

Maher | 13 years ago | Reply Good, But why 12th, why not 1st? We are first in corruption, first in terrorism, 1st in injustice, 1st in jobless. This govt must utilize its experienced leaders to make us 1st in FAILED STATES.. Our so-called democratic govt is trying its best.....

SHOAIB | 13 years ago | Reply Foreign media is expert in manipulating the facts. Instead of under estimating themselves we should question the credibility of this report. No one know the parameters of this grading. We should kept in mind that that we are in stat of war on dual front. I am sure our premature media will bring a storm in team cup on this report without any authentication or verification :). It does not mean at all that we are a very well governed country ans credit does to Mr. Asif Ali Zardari & PPP lead government. In fact this Government is making history in mismanagement and corruption which allow such type of magazines to defame our country.

Zubair | 13 years ago | Reply Stupid criterion ... If people have antiUS sentiments and if Pakistan checked all ticks of US security concerns how could it be considered as a failed state :S .. more then 40 Countries invade Iraq first, did genocide and now declared as failed state .. same goes with Somalia Sudan too .. What about Portugal and Greece .. they are not failed state because they are in Europe .. ????

Raja | 13 years ago | Reply The report is unfair as it places China at 72 while India is at 76. This report is politically motivated. India is nothing compared to China.

Mureed Bizenjo | 13 years ago | Reply This cant get any worse, if there was a list of most unfortunate states, Pakistan would be on top.

Indian | 13 years ago | Reply @malik: Are you in your senses?? Please try to understand the artical..and meaning of appearing top on this kind of failed state lists.

UMAIR | 13 years ago | Reply Basis aim of such reports is to defame Pakistan internationally. And they are doing it very well. For me Pakistan is not a Failed state but a mis-managed state.

xyz | 13 years ago | Reply @ Ashok If you are Implying Pakistan, Please note that Pakistan does not neighbor Sri Lanka, Nepal, Nor Bangladesh. In Fact, more of the lowers ranked countries in the region border India than any other other country. What would that suggest?

Muhammad Ramzan | 13 years ago | Reply A very unrealistic list that uses a criteria where only selected parameters are used while ground realities are ignored....case in point is Greece and Belgium...both may sound very stable from the outlook of these indexes but in reality are perhaps as unstable as Somalia or Afghanistan or perhaps even more. And these two countries have been so not for past few days but for past few years....so need to look into such assessments very carefully

Sunny Deol Pakistani | 13 years ago | Reply Question is who failed them?

A.Khan | 13 years ago | Reply I would say, 12th most failed army instead. Times has announced us the bravest nation on earth which is another perspective. These ranking magazines are wasting time on such researches. This is to demote the economy of a country.

Sunny Deol Pakistani | 13 years ago | Reply 10 to 12, 12 to 14, 14 to 16, 16 to 18, 18 to 20...and finally in 2047 last place on the list..

malik | 13 years ago | Reply Slap in the face of India !! They were not found fit to be included in this list !!!

ashok sai | 13 years ago | Reply India - 76 China - 72 Iran - 35 Sri Lanka - 29 Nepal - 27 Bangladesh (Formerly East Pakistan) - 25 Who is the volatile neighbor for all those countries above ?

uzair jamil | 13 years ago | Reply where religion is allowed to dictate terms to a government then obviously such a country will be on its way towards becoming a failed state.jinnah the founder of our country didn't want one particular religion to be imposed on the state but after his death the islamic fascists undid his good work and we are left with the hatefilled,bigoted society of today where the governor of the largest province is shot dead in broad daylight by a religious lunatic who murdered in the name of Islam.

CPKS | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistan moves out of the Top 10 --- Does this mean situation in Pakistan is improving or other states are doing worse ?

Imran | 13 years ago | Reply @Mirza: Come out of delusion dear and stop living in self denial to realities.

BruteForce | 13 years ago | Reply Another observation apart from the comment I posted above(Hoping that comment will be approved, of course). India is surrounded by Countries who are in the top 30 Failed Countries list, except with the exception of China. It ranks higher than China on this account. So India is doing something right on many accounts than most of these Countries. Pakistan can learn a lesson from India with regard to this.

Imran | 13 years ago | Reply What a shame for the nations above Pakistan in this list.

BruteForce | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistan is ranked lower than Burma and Yemen! My God! FYI, the article fails to mention that India is ranked 76th!! And, the 2 countries were born together, Pakistan a day earlier. Even Bangladesh which was born only 4 decades ago is at 25. So to summarize, Pakistan is closer to Afghanistan(Ranked 7th) and North Korea(to which it contains many, many similarities) than Countries like India and Bangladesh, which it has a shared History with.

3footninja | 13 years ago | Reply Special thanks to PPP/PML for getting us where we are today. Your unflinching dedication has made this country one of the top contenders for becoming a failed state. If only we can give you one more term in the office, I'm pretty sure we'd be sitting at the number one spot.

bulbul | 13 years ago | Reply What a shame, I feel sad for my country but I cant do anything about it because no one will let me.

Mirza | 13 years ago | Reply Are we not going to ask where are Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka or India on this list?

Chilli | 13 years ago | Reply No worries we will be top on the charts like corruption. Thanks to PPP.

Babar | 13 years ago | Reply Congratulations! We will strive to reach the top. Inshallah we will reach the top very soon.

Khawar Sher | 13 years ago | Reply A failed state ought not be able to develop a nuke !

faraz | 13 years ago | Reply We should come out of our delusions of grandeur! The global powers dont even know where is Pakistan

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