Is Pakistan a Failing State?

 Adnan Qaiser | December 17, 2013
Only in a country like Pakistan does one find tribal militants declaring an ‘Islamic Emirate of Waziristan’ while Sindhi nationalists play the ‘Sindh Card’ and threaten secession for ‘Sindhu-Desh’, Baluch Sardars struggle for ‘Free Baluchistan’, Pashtun leaders dream about ‘Greater Pashtunistan’, Punjabis keep their jingoism alive with ‘Jaag Punjabi Jaag’ (Wake-up Punjab), and Mohajir (migrants), not to be left behind, continue to threaten break away with maps already demarcated for ‘Jinnahpur’.

This dynamic is playing out in the current (fifth) Baluchistan insurgency, where even the middle class has taken up arms due to continued political neglect, economic deprivation and the military’s heavy handedness. Forced disappearances and extra-judicial killings continue, and the number of tortured and mutilated bodies found on the roadsides is growing – the result of a deadly game called ‘kill and dump’.

When French President Charles de Gaulle wrote to Israeli Prime Minister Ben Gurion that while historical states like France and Britain were destined to live forever, the survival of non-historical states depends upon the wisdom of their leaders, he might have also thought of Pakistan. For when states lose their rationale, they also lose their right to survive.
Nations survive and thrive through change. To emerge as a strong and stable country from this dark period, Pakistan’s leaders need to induce a dramatic change in their own and the country’s outlook rather than wait for change to be forced upon them, when it will be too late to salvage the nation.
For too long the international community has coddled Pakistani leaders, discouraging reform. Living off foreign aid and assistance has made this country a rentier state, led by elites grown accustomed to free lunches. Now is the time for the world to demand critical reforms like the International Development Committee of British House of Commons proposed in April of this year but then to let Pakistan’s leaders do the hard work. Meaningful land, economic and social-justice reforms must be introduced and state institutions must be set free from the political influence of wealthy elites who believe they have a legitimate right to behave corruptly after coming into power. If such reforms do not take place, Pakistan will continue failing and remain, as observed by General James Jones, former U.S. National Security Advisor, “hell bent on self-destruction”.
It’s decision time for Pakistan. Because we know what happens to people who stay in the middle of the road – they get run over.
This article is based on a talk the author delivered to the Montreal Branch of the Canadian International Council.
http://opencanada.org/features/the-think-tank/essays/is-pakistan-a-failing-state/