Pakistan ranks 12th on failed states index

KARACHI:

Pakistan moved two spots down the list of failed states from 2010, ranking 12th on The Failed States Index 2011.  The annual report was published by Fund for Peace, an independent non-profit research organisation that collaborates with the Foreign Policy (FP) magazine to draw attention to political, economic and social pressures experienced by states.

Pakistan placed in the ‘weak but not failed’ category, distinguishing it from chart topper Somalia. The American-based magazine suggested that while Somalia is a threat to its own society, Pakistan poses threats to the West as well.  Labelling Pakistan “a cockpit of terrorist violence”, the report also suggests that “state ideology and state institutions abet terrorists”.

However, the report includes Pakistan among the few countries that can “reasonably blame their Western parents for their plight”.

Functional not failed

Security analyst Imtiaz Gul asserted that he does not consider Pakistan a failed state. “Everyone knows Pakistan has problems – but Pakistan is not alone in creating them,” he said.

Commenting on the volatile security situation in the country, Lt Gen (retd) Talat Masood said that while the armed forces are currently going through a difficult time with the ongoing war against terror, he believes “they are still one of the better ones in the region”.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2011.