The writer is the recipient of the James A Wechsler Award for International Reporting and a graduate of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism
Pakistan accomplished a lot in its brief but eventful existence. The birth of Pakistan was nothing short of a political, historical and geographical miracle, which led the country to believe that it was special by virtue of its existence. Pakistan was a country brimming with possibilities and potential, especially during its late teens and early twenties when its green revolution was the envy of the developing world and the country was called out as a role model for economic and industrial development. Somewhere along the way, Pakistan grew frustrated at always being able to visualise but never realise its full potential and eventually lost the plot. A mid-life crisis, sparked by the inability to define the role religion should play in society, led to an unstoppable lurch towards a more polarised polity.
The irony of Pakistan’s battle with cancer was that it wasn’t overwhelmed physically by the disease. The country was in a perfect position to isolate and defeat the most violent strains of the cancer but ultimately lost the fight not on the battleground but within its own heart and mind. Pakistan chose to fight extremists instead of fighting extremism. It was like attempting to cure cancer with a Panadol; trying to defeat the physical symptoms of the disease rather fighting the root causes of the disease itself.
Pakistan never really made a wrong decision when it came to fighting cancer. Instead, it chose to never make a decision at all and wished the problem would simply go away. Pakistan’s critics liked to argue that the country was in denial but its close friends thought Pakistan would pull through. After all, Pakistan had a habit of living on the edge and taking everyone to the brink before clawing its way back to sanity. But something went horribly wrong this time. Pakistan grew bitter against its friends who were essentially funding a country on ventilator. Instead of viewing the pain of life support and subsequent treatment as a step towards resurrection, Pakistan saw the pain of the treatment as the problem itself. In short, when it came to extremism, Pakistan chose to fight the treatment instead of the disease. Friends pushed for more incisive treatments as the disease spread and Pakistan continued to push back. Ultimately, it was easier to reconcile oneself to accidental martyrdom rather than a deliberately painful existence.
Pakistan was never truly afraid of death. It was life that Pakistan feared. Choices always put the country on the spot. Pakistan had a lot of good qualities; resilience, resourcefulness, a big heart, etc. But Pakistan was never decisive. Pakistan’s life wasn’t all doom and gloom; there was a lot to celebrate too. The country loved to be at the centre of the world’s attention, even if it was usually for all the wrong reasons. Underneath all the attention that brought the country infamy, there was a lot Pakistan got right. It was the Pakistani people that elected and re-elected the Muslim world’s first female prime minister, even before America, the leader of the free world, elected a female head of state. It was Pakistan that gave the world Mr Abdul Sattar Edhi, the unassuming social worker whose life serves as a window into the lives of millions of Pakistanis; who go about their everyday lives and in their own understated way, selflessly make a difference in the lives of those around them. If Pakistan had a few extra years to live life without cancer, the country could have made the world a better place. Alas, we will never know what could have been.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (51)
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@wonderer: "Mr. Jinnah is already avoiding Maulana Azad’s eyes when they chance to come face to face in the clouds". You nailed it man.
there are many positives about pakistan. pakistan's democracy has never been stronger. pakistan had a civil government completing its term and hand over the reins to the next civil government. musharaf despite foolishly playing negative on india was determined to bring a civilian government, and he succeeded in doing so than any other military ruler in the past. he did a lot of damage too to accomplish the goal, but it all looked worthwhile.
the money from usa to support the war has been paying, helped pakistan to import the necessities. without this money since 2001, pakistan would have severe economic crisis, so severe that the social disturbance would be far more than what pakistan is tolerating now. the country would decidedly be in worse form, without that money.
money helped save pakistan in the last 12 years. pakistan should maximize the money earned. growing economy can reduce and eventually solve all problems. a very good source of money for pakistan is india. pakistan should maximize all trade with india, even if pakistan had to compromise here or there. pakistan should be humble with india, after all india is its biggest neighbor. is not pakistan humble with usa, because usa is richer? if pakistan can forget its origin for its own gain and survival, pakistan would have been even more humble, or at least as much, to india than to the usa, given indian economic size and proximity. being humble makes one greater and not smaller. being humble to bigger sister is nothing wrong.
@Author: Your article once again reflects the "victim" mentality of majority Pakistani mass. The helplessness you mentioned is very much by choice and not that you are forced to bear that. In India there are many social ills, but past recent years shows that Indians are actively becoming more assertive in guiding the future political scenario in the nation. Their voice against corruption and crimes like rapes are showing some results. No crime or ill disappears overnight but at least we made an effort, at least there is a start. While the elite liberal Pakistanis like yourself choose to be helpless and watch tamasaha while not doing anything about it. There are many ills which you silently admit but have no guts, or strategy to tackle it. If you want to cure terrorism, find the root cause of it. You can blame others for passing on AIDS to you but reality is that you endeavored in doing the un-protected "act" to catch it. Likewise you can keep blaming India, but truth is you guys do not know how to handle India.
@Talha Rizvi: My dear frustrated Pakistani brother. Indians in middle east are mostly muslims. Muslims do not have adjusting in muslim land. But Mulsim always try to find problems in non muslim countries. So my dear it is the western culture despising Pakistani muslims in USA who should get back to their pious land. Try a better example next time to rebutte someone's comment.
: The author writes well like a graduate from the columbia university. His article is shaped more or less like a column for daily news paper to stimulate readers before they go about doing their daily routines. But wait a minute, the title is rude and aggressive but very challenging one. I am not a Pakistani citizen but let me see if as an observer I could add something positive;
Pakistan did not come about on account of any heroic revolution of the muslim Natives under the command of their leader Mr Jinnah nor due to the generosity of the anglo saxon rulers, but as a direct result of the agreement which the Allied powers confronting Hitler undertook that the European colonialists will give up their colonies at the end of ww2.. However, after a very short period of independence the newly formed Pakistan army rebelled against the civilian order and formed an authoritarian Government which carried over the frame work of colonial administration and all its jagon for a prolonged period despite the dismembering of the country into two parts while the rebellion lives on in two other provinces. With regard to authors reference to Cancer, the most basic treatment is to deny the patient SUGAR which the cancer cells live on!
Waqar Qureshi, Contained in your comments are the suggestions and solutions which if put in practice could alleviate most of the concerns the country is currently facing. They are very sond.
Rex Minor
As expected we are not prepared to accept truth as the author has so rightly pointed out.....pessimistically so.....this is the truth my friends ! the last fight with a group of such jihadist in KSA was in 2003, since then the govt of KSA has cleaned the city of Qassim- which was notoriously called a factory for mullahs....no more madarrassahs in any mosques all,over the country allowed except licensed by the govt....beside, all mosques in all areas are licensed and Imams are selected by the govt, watchfully monitored of their activities by the intel agencies especially during Friday sermons...all those arrested extremists were reformed in the govt run institution and given employment in govt institutions to keep watch over them....this is how,extremism was fought in KSA.....they went to the root cause and they found the root in Qaseem....today this Qaseem has all the amenities like any big city of KSA and all American food outlets....so my friends if we have will we can do it ! Let us stop beating about the bush and face facts to reform ourselves....
Good, now there is no need for action!. The war is over! Roll over - or under, it doesn't matter. Pakistan was never its 180m people, since the latter are alive and the former is dead. That sounds profound - I wonder what it means. Did the people let down Pakistan, or did Pakistan abandon its people? I wonder if that means anything at all. With such cheerleaders how did it all last such a long 66 years ....... I wonder.
@Talha Rizvi: @sabi is a Pakistani who supports PML-N. Indians do not hate Muslims. We have 180 Muslims among us who are also proud Indians. In any case Indians have not asked their government to maintain distance from middle eastern countries unlike the person @sabi was responding to. So besides the fact that you are wrong about his nationality, you are also wrong in your logic.
I have never seen you make any point anywhere that articulates our opinion on an issue or takes dialog further. All ou ever do is indulge in random personal attacks.
dear sir, this is an overly pessimistic article. It could be partially true- say 20% true- -- as for the remaining part- 80% -- i am sure pakistanis are more robust, more strong, alive and kicking- they can bounce back soon enough- what they need to do is to curb the military spending and debt-servicing expenses- they can then invest in more productive areas such as health, education and agro-industries. They can seek a SAARC union with all the states of south asia - somewhat like the EU. They can say let us have a common defence, common currency, common trade, visa-free travel. Imagine a combined pakistan, india and bangladesh- Their GDP can be over 3 trillion dollars soon, banishing poverty in the sub-continent. Millions will travel all over the SAARC states without visas. The kashmir problem will be automatically peacefully solved. In a united SAARC - all the countries can retain their national identities, but the common defence, trade, and currency can make South asia a haven of peace and prosperity with good ties with all world powers. Is it possible??? Let us at least dream, imagine and make it a reality one day- AMEEN-
@Talha Rizvi: how will the Indian trolls who gloat over Pakistanis dying in suicide blasts explain themselves to God
First God will ask you, "what were you doing when your government was training the suicide bombers ?" The next question will be, "what did you do to stop this training of suicide bombers ?" The next one, "what did you do to stop these suicide bombers from killing innocent children, women and other civilians ? "
I strongly suggest, you worry about how you are going to explain your conduct before worrying about the others. :)
@Talha Rizvi: So Ms Rizvi you are happy with how things are in Pakistan. Since you are so sure of the direction you are going; just step on the gas, and please reach wherever you are going as fast as you can. If you need any help, just let us know...
ps: Some of the commentators that you accused of being Indians, are in fact Pakistanis. You are blinded by your ignorance.
Pakistan has been led astray by the company it kept all these years. that company is the close association and dependence on criminals and terrorists, and to make them seem like strategic assets. No0 one likes others to use criminal intent. That is why the world now shuns Pakistan. The way to fight back, is for all to accept that Pakistan will have no truck with terrorists and jihadis. That pakistan will never support anti India terrorists. Till that becomes a nationally accepted theme, Pakistan will just go to the dogs. Its time to change ones heart. otherwise the end is so very near. Finally Pakistans extreme obsession with Kashmir and India, and which made Pakistan sponsor global terrorists, is the spreading cancer in its society.
@Talha Rizvi: Read up what's a troll and then come and address me as one! Portraying reality and calling a spade a spade isn't trolling. I do however promise to rage troll you from now whenever I get a chance to do so. Tu ruk toh sahi!
Bilal - i wish i had the art of putting thoughts to words like you do ! Bravo ! very well written...although i wish u hadent stolen this idea from KD...
@Ajmal Nasir
Which Sharia? : The No Music/ No entertainment, cover in Burkha , grow beard , 100 lashes, stoning for adultery , chopping of hands, four witnesses to rape sharia?
@BRUISED INDIAN: You are probably the worst troll ever. I wonder how will the Indian trolls who gloat over Pakistanis dying in suicide blasts explain themselves to God. @ polpot: The level of anti-Pakistani venom is visible in your comments and that of the other Indians. @ sabi: When will you Indians leave the middle east since you hate muslims so much? @ Singh: When will you control Modi, VHP,RSS and Shiv sena? @ Vakil: You guys seem to be from a country called Modiistan where a mass murderer is eulogized. @ Anon: Your intentions towards Pakistan are well known. Please leave this site.
The opening lines should have been "Pakistan, the worlds most irresponsible and spoilt brat of a nation met its maker"
You liberals mouring the death of your secular dreams, The majority of us want a Pakistan that follows sharia. If liberals are sad then we should happy.
This just made me very, very sad. Like helplessly sad.
Such pessimism?
Very well written and should be thought provoking for all Pakistanis.
You have written the obituary of a terminally ill patient. We will not die, we will perish. Please understand the difference the Death is inevitable. To Die is natural. But to Perish is to commit suicide.
"It was the Pakistani people that elected and re-elected the Muslim world’s first female prime minister," +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ And then successfully saw her murdered on the roads with no one ever prosecuted for her murder. Despite a UN investigation. No one can say that the symptoms of the cancer were not visible.
@Waqar Qureshi: Taliban and other extremists ideology about Drones and USA's war on terrorism is to fool common Pakistanis. In reality their mission is to capture Pakistan and impose their barbaric ideology. If there were no Drones, they would have come out in open and would have already accomplished their mission.
@Waqar Qureshi: 2. Distance yourself from USA Charity begins at home.Ask your relatives or friends to leave America.
After wasting 10 years,human resources and financial resources, pakistan is heading towards right direction. If we can talk to india for peace than why not our own people can be talked?
It was like attempting to cure cancer with a Panadol; trying to defeat the physical symptoms of the disease rather fighting the root causes of the disease itself.
Sounds much like Imran Khan's 'Hum cancer ka ilaaj Aspirin se kar rahe hain'.
The radicalism or extremism in Pakistan began right from its inception because Muslims of sub-continent were lured into Pakistan Movement only by a promise that it would be an Islamic state. No one cared to define what exactly 'Islamic State' meant. It is not like Pakistan hadn't been decisive. Problem was, that every decision was catch-22. I agree with Bilal on the fact that Pakistan has fought extremists and not extremism. But, I would go one step ahead to reinstate what he probably must have intended to write. Extremism, like it was inculcated in madarrassah's during Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, can be neutralized only by educating masses an unbiased history and revolutionizing the books taught here such that the curriculum invites critical thinking. 'Ideology' requires a sympathy and not logic to be explained. Unless, we address the 'ideology' military operations are futile.
I think since the Taliban haven't declared Jihad against us common place innocent citizens (well, not very innocent), it's a bit too early to publish Pakistan's obituary. I hope it's still an announcement for 'missing persons'.
@Waqar Qureshi: You analysis is total wrong. Control all Madrsaa, Moulvi & hate speech, You will be fine
Was surprised that somewhere at the end of the article there was no mention of what the country should be called now... where presumably its people at least appear to be "living" ... something called "Zombiestan" (dead, but "living"... in a sort of an "un-dead" way) comes to mind...
Pakistan ceased to exist on December 16, 1971 when majority population ceded to form secular Bangladesh, to take care of native Bangali language and culture. Rest of the Bakistan acquired cancer of Bedouinism.
Are we already dead ?..........because if not, then there is a saying that ' What does not kill you, makes you stronger '.
Though a satire but with factual details stated it is nothing short of a master piece. RIP.
Totally agreed with one line of your article. We are fighting terrorists not terrorism. Only Way Out of Terrorism: . There are always two perspectives to any war 1. Ideological 2. Physical . Irrespective of how much powerful militarily you are, you have to win at ideological front too. . Whether we agree with Taliban ideology or no ... Their ideology is; "Pakistan is fighting the war of USA against Muslims. This is why and how they get man power and suicide bombers." . Only sustainable solution to this terrorism inside Pakistan in my humble opinion is explained below; 1. Stop Nato supply, stop drones 2. Distance yourself from USA 3. Either War will finish itself or even if we have to launch an operation, chances of its success will be increased by at least 90% . Last but not the least; Wars can never be fought or won on the basis of military might alone. You have to defeat the thinking which is making people fight with you. Otherwise US would have succeeded in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq, Kashmir and Palestine would be peaceful today, Russia would still be residing in Afghanistan, Pakistan would still be part of India and the list goes on and on.
In all my years of scanning ET / Dawn and othe Pakistani publications, never have I read an article that is so true and conveys the author's (and society's) helplessness so accurately! Well done Bilal.