Strategic statesmanship

If a country is blessed with leaders who possess visionary, strategic statesmanship and make correct and timely decisions, then it cannot end up as a failing or failed state. Strategic statesmanship is a quality which reflects a leadership's capability to pull a nation out from grave crisis and conflict.

Late Dr Henry Kissinger, former US Secretary of State and Harvard Professor, argues in his book, Leadership: Six Studies in World Strategy: "Strategy describes the conclusion a leader reaches under these conditions of scarcity, temporality, competition and fluidity. In finding the way ahead, strategic leadership may be likened to traversing a tightrope: just as an acrobat will fall if either too timid or too audacious, a leader is obliged to navigate within a narrow margin, suspended between relative certainties of the past and the ambiguities of the future."

Kissinger further examines the need for strategic leadership in strengthening a country's economy, security, politics, and governance by magnifying that the greatest scope for decision-making exists when relevant information is at its scantiest. Kissinger likens a strategic leader to an artist sculpting the future using the materials available in the present.

The absence of strategic leadership in Pakistan, despite the country's numerous qualities, aggravates its crises. Pakistan is blessed with the tallest mountain peaks, desert, coast, plains, valuable mineral resources and the world's largest canal system. Yet being the only Muslim nuclear state and the world's 6th most populous country, with 250 million people, does not absolve it of political instability, economic fragility, bad governance, absence of rule of law, lack of accountability, corruption, and nepotism. An acute water and energy crisis as well as environmental degradation poses serious challenges to the very survival of Pakistan. Extremism, violence, and widespread acts of terrorism in Balochistan and K-P also reflect the critical absence of strategic statesmanship in formulating policies which can mitigate the lethal impact of such issues.

A culture of strategic, analytical and critical thinking skills is only supported by a knowledge-friendly society. When unqualified professionals occupy positions of merit and the cultural practice of questioning, reasoning, doubting and discussing is discouraged, society only crawls towards its degradation. The lack of statesmanship reflects the dearth of leadership which is essential in dealing with issues with strategic prudence and perseverance. When reality reflects that around two million educated youths left Pakistan in the last two years for a better future, it means that those at the helm of affairs are severely devoid of strategic statesmanship. Otherwise, this massive brain drain from Pakistan would have been prevented. But the people wielding power are oblivious of their core responsibilities and are only focusing on matters that ensure their continuity of power by any and all means.

In its 78-year history, Pakistan has experienced a break-up in 1971 and numerous setbacks, yet the opportunities to transform the country into an economic powerhouse and a model of governance have been lost. Does this mean that post-1971 rulers lacked the competence or commitment to make use of Pakistan's enormous mineral resources and strategic location? If half of the country is trapped in a viscous cycle of violence and terrorism while the other half is subject to political engineering, it suggests a leadership devoid of strategic statesmanship.

While Pakistan faces significant challenges - violence, terrorism, ethnic, sectarian and religious discords, along with economic and political crises - there are also opportunities to transform the country into a vibrant state given that there is an honest and hardworking leadership which demonstrates strategic statesmanship to address these existing threats.

Strategic statesmanship in Pakistan can be examined from three perspectives:

First, the state needs to be serious about implementing good governance and rule of law to revert corruption and nepotism which has deeply permeated state and societal structures, particularly within the last 5 decades. It is imperative that a strict line is drawn between right and wrong, and that the state makes sure there are no sacred cows in the realm of accountability. Unfortunately, ground realities suggest a system that is not law-abiding, and the leadership lacks the statesmanship necessary to address political, economic, environmental, foreign policy, rule of law and governance affairs. History proves that nations governed by honest, hardworking, and intelligent leadership prove to become role models of progress.

Second, strategic statesmanship can yield positive results if an innovative and creative approach is adopted in eradicating extremism, violence and terrorism from Pakistan - with a zero-tolerance state policy. However, the roots of terrorism must be eradicated for that, rather than a reliance on superficial and cosmetic measures. Social and economic justice, adherence to the rule of law, commitment to eradicate corruption and nepotism - all these measures will go a long way to rid Pakistan of its fatal threats. Unfortunately, the leadership and power elites themselves are responsible for pushing Pakistan on the brink of disaster. One must ask why Pakistan continues to struggle despite the sacrifices made in 1947 and 1971, and the more than 100,000 lives lost to terrorism in the aftermath of 9/11. Why does Pakistan rank at the bottom in the human security index, perception-corruption index, educational index, per capita index, gender index, and other yardsticks of measuring progress? Why have PIA, Railways, Steel Mills and other public sector institutions accumulated losses of several trillion rupees, while the Federal Board of Revenue's collected tax is barely covering just the interest on national debt repayments? These failures reflect the dearth of strategic statesmanship and visionary leadership.

Third, strategic statesmanship requires rulers that are above corruption, nepotism and hypocrisy, and provide a sense of direction to their citizens. Without massive structural change in state and society, Pakistan will remain vulnerable to recurring crises. Government and opposition leaders must set aside parochial interests and prioritise Pakistan's survival. State institutions must function within their constitutional mandate and respect the people's will through early, free, and fair elections so power can be transferred to genuinely elected leaders. Only through such decisive and strategic leadership can Pakistan overcome its challenges and secure a stable and vibrant future.