PAKISTAN ZINDABAD!

The one country that has always attracted my attention is Pakistan. I have always paid attention to any news that is related to this country. I am not a very big fan of Pakistan but the fact that this ultra volatile nation is our neighbor and has always created problem for us is the reason I always keep watch on it. It is very interesting and worrying to study the social, political and economic aspects (read problems) of Pakistan. In 60’s Pak was considered as a role model of economic development for the developing nations and 50 years later the country is on the brink of economic collapse.

Jinnah would not have dared to ask for Pakistan if he would have got a peek-a-boo of the country in its current state. What a shame. What a colossal disappointment. Pakistan despite getting the best pieces of Indian sub continent, the Indus valley and Bengal, could not prosper. The loss of East Pakistan and intensifying demand for separate Baluchistan and Pakhtunistan describes how united the country is. Adding to the woes of Pakistan is the increasing religious extremism in the country. Lal Masjid incident and increasing fidayeen attacks are primary indicators of Iran like fate of the country. I thank Jinnah for demanding separate nation for fanatic and religiously blind people. If ‘Akhand Bharat’ means inclusion of Pakistan in India then I would prefer a ‘Khandit Bharat’.

I cannot remember who but someone said it right that Pakistan has always been ruled by 3 A’s – Allah, Army and America. Today all these three A’s have come together to haunt Pakistan. The religious extremism is spreading like wild fire in the nation. Musharaf’s pro-western policies have resulted in civil war on Western Frontier and have led to political and social chaos in the country. America is openly killing innocent people in Pakistan under the name of ‘war on terror’ and it is the real king maker in the country. Is Fidel Castro listening?

I believe that economic stability is the second most important factor in well being of a country ranking behind social stability. For Pakistan none of these are working. The social fabric of the country is getting ripped off due to religious extremism. The country is almost bankrupt and is running to its so called ‘friends’ in Middle East, in West and in Asia Pacific (read China) for help. Today Pakistan is learning it hard way that there are no friends in politics but just allies seeking their interests. After getting a finger from it’s ‘friends’ IMF bailed out Pakistan by approving $7.6 billion loan package which is still inadequte. What a shame - a nuclear power carrying a begging bowl.

Couple of days back I read news that Pak is finalizing a deal with Germany to purchase 3 submarines worth $1.3 billion. I don’t know what words I should use to describe Pakistan’s leadership. The country’s economy is going down the drain, the country is begging for money and these people are buying war equipment. Pakistan is one of eight countries worldwide that spend less than 2% of GDP on education. Why cannot they use this money for a noble cause like education (not the terror oriented madarssa education), why cannot they use this money to revive their economy? What kind of hare brained and intellectually bankrupt people are running this country?

Gifted with such ‘unique’ leaders I see future of this nation is bleak. I hope I am wrong. I hope Pak gets out of its miseries. Some day, may be, Jinnah’s dream of Indo-Pak relation taking form of US-Canada relation will come true and let’s hope by then Pak will not be a Yugoslavia part 2. Till then PAKISTAN ZINDABAD!

- Pritash Chaudry