ONCE UPON A TIME

The jargon ‘ONCE UPON A TIME’ is familiar to all those who have heard bedtime stories. The stories I heard had a beginning some thing like this – ‘Once upon a time long ago’ or ‘Once upon a time far-far away’ etc. Those were the good old days when our maturity wasn’t any where near to spoil the fun.

Speaking of ‘Once upon a time’ this term will be used in future to refer back to several happenings that are taking place today for e.g. Once upon a time there was a guy called Dubya, Once upon a time far-far away was a huge kingdom called ‘USSR’ or once upon a time India had a notorious neighbor called Pakistan’. In 2008 Pakistan ranked 9^th in failed states list. In 2007 it ranked 12^th. Looking at the turmoil and chaos in Pakistan it looks like Pak will be joining the ‘Once upon a time’ league. Current turmoil in Pakistan has not emerged overnight or because of one single problem but several ‘TIME TESTED’ problems have led the country into its current situation. ‘Ultra Corrupt’ incompetent leaders, advance of Taliban, rising extremism, friction between government policies and public, rising inflation, deteriorating economy, constant pressure from US and NATO forces to ‘do more’ in war on terror, ISI, terrorist attacks on neighbors, illiterate and misinformed angry populace, intensifying demand for Baluchistan and Pakthunistan, high expenditure on military, decades of incompetent and destructive military rule all have or are contributing for Pakistan’s advance in failed state list. Pakistan is may be the only country in the world where suicide bombers are auctioned to settle personal scores. Support to War on terror has turned out to be a catastrophe for Pakistan. If Pak does not stop supporting America’s war on terror and if does not adopt a pro-Islam state policy I see two possible future scenario’s for Pak –

1) Disintegration

2) Islamic revolution of Pakistan.

None of the above is appealing for the Pakistani state. Disintegration will break the morale of the country. Pakistan has faced disintegration earlier in 1971 when it lost East Pakistan. East Pakistan was already distant from the mainland Pakistan and had relatively less impact compared to what will happen when mainland Pakistan breaks up. It will kill the Pakistani spirit. Secondly disintegration does not eliminate religious extremism or possibility of Islamic revolution under which sharia will be imposed on the country. Considerable population wants sharia to be the constitution and they believe it will eliminate all the problems currently present in Pakistan. In international front implementation of sharia will distant Pak from its western friends. Saudi Arabia has sharia law and the only reason why American’s are friends with them is oil. When the Saudi oil well’s dry up Americans are going to kiss them goodbye. Uncle Sam will be really pissed if Sharia is imposed in Pakistan. India too will bear the brunt of this 7^thcentury rule because Hindu’s are branded as Kafir’s (non-believers). In either situation Uncle Sam or west does not give a damn about the well being of Pakistani state but what concern them are the Pakistani nukes. West (and India) will make sure that if Sharia is imposed in Pak all the nukes are taken care off.

Currently one of the biggest cause of worry for Pak is president elect Barack Obama. Barack Obama is man with lot of demands from Pakistan, the demands which Pakistan is reluctant to comply with. He has already said (warned) several times that he will attack Pakistani tribal areas along Afghan border. He holds the theory that Pak is the cause of trouble in Afghanistan and until Pakistani extremist elements are not eliminated there is no hope for peace in Afghanistan. No matter how much Pakistan yells about its sovereignty Obama is not going to listen. Obama has mentioned that he will‘persuade’ Pakistan to cooperate in relocating the war on terror to Pak tribal areas in other words he will force Pakistan to allow attacks on its territory. Further the rising pressure to act upon the 26/11 perpetrators is another matter of concern for the incompetent Pakistani leaders. Here Pakistan is caught between radical Pakistani populace and pro-Indian international community, Pakistani leaders cannot dare to extradite the 26/11 extremists to India because it will cause unrest among the public and if it does not India and West will make things difficult for Pakistan e.g. like declaring Pakistan a terrorist state.

At this time while finishing this piece Barrack Obama is about to take oath. I am going to end this piece here and be a witness to a historic moment. A moment which will be a symbol of equality and respect for all. May be couple of decades down the line I will be telling my grandchildren 'Once upon a time there was a madness called racism'.

- Pritash Chaudry