And we all fall down

Science fiction author Isaac Asimov has the uncanny gift of planting human consciousness in a variety of physical realities quite different from our own and bringing out a plethora of reactions. In his fiction work Nightfall, he imagines a planet whose inhabitants are just like us with an interesting twist. The planet has six suns that ensure there is no nightfall for 2,000 years, but when it does come — unaccustomed to darkness — humanity goes mad, burning everything down for light and by doing so, bringing the entire civilisation down.

In a state of great crisis and in a rapidly changing neighbourhood on which we seldom have control, we Pakistanis often go mad ourselves. Fear of the unknown does that to people. But we divide and fight among ourselves at a time when unity is all but necessary. Not convinced? Let us discuss it step-by-step.

What are the greatest concerns we have as a state? The biggest fear is that after the US drawdown in Afghanistan by the end of this year, terrorism will explode in the region. Another uncertainty is of the so-called zero option. The Afghan president has not signed the Bilateral Security Agreement with the US, while the leading candidates in the Afghan elections have committed to signing it if elected. But in case it is not, the US can pullout from the region, leaving Kabul prone to hostile forces. Our love-hate relationship with Washington notwithstanding, there is a generation that has grown knowing Kabul through the US prism in the past decade.

Then there is the matter of the expected victory of Dr Abdullah Abdullah in Afghanistan and Narendra Modi in India. Since the days of the Northern Alliance, Islamabad has viewed Dr Abdullah with considerable suspicion and as an Indian ally. Add the rise of Narendra Modi and you get a pretty fair idea what fears must be haunting the hearts and minds of policymakers in Pakistan.

These are just the assumed external challenges. On the domestic front, the dialogue process with the TTP is in suspended animation; a lack of decisive operation against the ragtag army is not bringing clarity to the table. Defiance in Balochistan is not coming down. Karachi struggles everyday with the law and order situation. The economy might be showing signs of recovery but the positive trends are easily reversible. Now connect it all with the external environment and you see a seriously troubled picture.



The bad blood between the institutions, political parties and the media that originated during the struggle that brought down Musharraf’s regime refuses to go away — aided and abetted by the former dictator’s coterie of sycophants. In such a kerfuffle, it is a small miracle that paranoia hasn’t brought the functioning of the state to a grinding halt. But we are very near the meltdown already.

If you relent for a moment to take one hard look, you realise that all this is not product of an elaborate conspiracy but simply an outcome of unintended consequence. Yes, unintended consequences of poor policy choices we — as a state — have made over the decades. The matter is further complicated by the fact that there are no clear policy options available right now. But that doesn’t mean we have none. It is my personal experience that in the time of great transitions, old fears come back to life but once one is ready to work hard to find a solution, the uncertain times pass fairly quickly and one emerges stronger out of it.

Right now, we need all hands on the deck. Our Lilliputian wars and opportunism can wait. Synergy and unity is all we need. So if there is any misunderstanding please do away with it, reach out and show some faith. We cannot wish our opponents away. Why give real enemies of this state further room to manoeuvre? Remember, united we stand and divided we fall.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2014.

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