Â鶹ԼÅÄ

Wars and Conflicts  permalink

A strategy to reverse Pakistan’s and the world’s imminent downfall

• Message 1. 

  Posted by a_m_kassim (U13495190) on Sunday, 5th October 2008

  A strategy to reverse Pakistan’s and the world’s imminent downfall
  
  By: A. M. Kassim
  BA(Hons) ACIPD, UK
  
  
  There is much talk amongst national and international circles about helping to ‘reconstruct’ institutions in Pakistan in the backdrop of the alleged flawed policies of the previous government which has brought Pakistan to the brink of bankruptcy. The international community is keen to help Pakistan because of fears that its nuclear weapons might fall into the hands of unscrupulous elements which would threaten their existence and result in disastrous consequences for the entire world.
  
  In my opinion, the solution to safeguard all stakeholders’ interests is not simply in succumbing to Pakistani leaders emotional statements of asking for help such as ‘if we fail, you fail’… ‘we cannot do this alone’ and save our ‘sinking ship’.
  
  This is just greed speaking on the part of such leaders, ‘emotional blackmail’ and desperation to top up their bank accounts which in their eyes needs doing on a ‘priority’ basis.
  
  They are not at all interested in restoring vigour in Pakistan’s faltering economy, as if they were, Pakistan would never have got to the stage where it is now i.e. crumbling by the day.
  
  Pakistani leaders enjoy more facilities and luxuries than some ‘international’ leaders and are running the state of affairs of the country with scant regard to the masses concerns and problems, treating the country as their personal private property where all injustices are permitted, as long as they are the beneficiaries’.
  
  Hoodwinking the masses has become of second nature to them, as practised time and again during successive governments and during election campaigns.
  
  Let us now turn to the often asked question by the international community of why the masses support these leaders if they were so unscrupulous. The answer is straightforward and does not take a rocket scientist in figuring out an answer to this question.
  
  The masses are so poor and desperate for food, specially in the villages where these unscrupulous leaders are ‘feudal lords’ that they have no option but to do as they are forced. They are not allowed to disobey their ‘masters’ as if they do, they will be subject to the worst form of torture, their houses will be burnt down, women humiliated/raped, men put in ‘private jails’ of these so called champions of democracy and the like.
  
  This is not an over exaggerated scenario of the state of affairs, but the truth and this can be substantiated by anyone who has good knowledge about the country.
  
  These feudal lords and other leaders will never want to see Pakistan come out of the shackles of poverty because they know, that will be the end of their hegemony, hence they work jointly to ensure the country does not progress, the poor become poorer to increase their dependence on them and be easily used and abused the way they desire to achieve their objectives of ‘eternal rule’.
  
  In view of the aforementioned assertions, the international community should not take the easy way out by succumbing to the unscrupulous leaders’ emotional blackmail, and should attach conditions for helping Pakistan.
  
  If they want to win the war against terror, they have to show themselves to be on the people’s side rather than helping these unscrupulous leaders unquenchable greed.
  
  The world leaders should ask these Pakistani leaders to abolish feudalism, bring land reforms, and to ‘help themselves’ by parting with some of their own money – those billions of dollars stashed away in international banks to help their people rather than appealing for more money.
  
  Also, a strong mechanism of ‘accountability’ needs to be introduced in Pakistan akin to the US and in the UK. It is a rarity to see politicians acting according to their whims because of this accountability.
  
  Also, structural changes needs to take place in Pakistan by the international community exerting pressure to overcome human rights abuses such as ‘honour killing’ and the bizarre custom of marrying of girls against their will to settle scores between warring parties and to settle debt issues.
  
  It all comes down to ‘poverty’.
  
  Poverty is a major problem in Pakistan and this needs to be addressed properly for lasting solutions to the world problems of terrorism. People need to see the international community help them sincerely by helping them directly ‘on the ground’ by giving them aid and developing their institutions through independent aid agencies such as OXFAM and the like for the war against terror to be won forever by winning the hearts of the people.
  
  Also, there has to be a strong monitoring of the progress of such initiatives by the international community and not the local Pakistani people as corruption and poverty can compromise desired results.
  
  I can almost certainly guarantee results if these measures are adopted and instead of to ‘strengthen’ the hands of these so-called democratic leaders, their autocratic rule should be challenged.
  
  To conclude, I ask the question, what if international leaders such as Gordon Brown and Tony Blair would change reputable national institutions names such as Cambridge University to ‘Gordon Brown University’, how would the British public react? Almost certainly this would be opposed and could also result in bringing down a government if such autocratic acts would continue.
  
  Conversely, in Pakistan, such acts go unchecked due to poverty and the ‘influence’ of such leaders.
  The purpose of this article is to give an indication of the true scenario of the state of affairs in Pakistan, and to provide food for thought on new ways to combat the menace of terrorism.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Link to this forum: A strategy to reverse Pakistan’s and the world’s imminent downfall

  Report message1

• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by LairigGhru (U5452625) on Tuesday, 7th October 2008

  Have you anything to say about the approx 2,000 madrases (religious schools) that now exist near the border with Afghanistan, churning out thousands of fervent extremists who seem likely to make trouble for the world for years to come?

  Link to this forum: A strategy to reverse Pakistan’s and the world’s imminent downfall

  Report message2

• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Mike Alexander (U1706714) on Tuesday, 7th October 2008

  Isn't the problem that the West cannot push for true democracy in Pakistan because it relies on the existing powers-that-be to assist in tackling the Taleban? From the very outset of the conflict in Afghanistan, the western military has relied on the assistance of Pakistan's intelligence services. It continues to do so, therefore it seems unlikely that the West will take a strong line with the Pakistani establishment.

  Link to this forum: A strategy to reverse Pakistan’s and the world’s imminent downfall

  Report message3

• Message 4

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by U3280211 (U3280211) on Tuesday, 7th October 2008

  AMK.
  Interesting starter.
  
  Pakistan has suffered from the most awful leadership since its inception. One could argue that it was actually born out of Jinnah's obduracy and prejudice. Partition was a disaster and the idea of two Pakistans either side of north India was insane. But that didn't last long.
  
  We now have two, very different Pakistans, either side of the Indus (see Belt/Reza, National Geographic Sept 2007).
  
  Things went from bad to worse steadily, until General Zia ul Haq arrived by deadly coup in 1977, after which time Pakistan has accelerated towards bitter clan-based feudal chaos. The Islamisation which Zia started, has continued long after his (accidental or was it CIA inspired?) death.
  The truth is, that without A.Q. Khan's, stolen A-bomb secrets, Pakistan would matter little more than Somalia, to western interests. But it has 'the bomb' and we are thus fascinated to find-out which corrupt politician will administer the nightmare next. Surely, Zardari has to be an all-time low point?
  
  Your analysis seems essentially a Marxist one, with much concentration on justice, fairness, corruption and despotic feudalism. I'm usually opposed to such broad sweeps and simplifications but in this case the analysis seems fair and appropriate, although you don't mention the strangle-hold that Islam has over the populace (a factor which is likely to damp-down any mass desire for rapid left-leaning radicalism).
  
  You ask for the aid of the west to discipline Pakistan's dire and corrupt rulers. I'm not sure the west is looking in the right place at present. America has finally realised that the war in Afghanistan has its base camp in the tribal areas of places such as North Waziristan. Places which would probably freely vote for the Taliban, if given a choice tomorrow.
  US actions of 'hot pursuit', while militarily necessary, are not likely to win hearts and minds in the Pashtun border areas. If the Pakistani army cannot enter Miram Shah (in its own country) no wonder they have had to rely on their spies in the ISI. These spies seem to have 'gone native' and now no one (not even their paymasters) can trust them, are they hiding Bin Laden?.
  
  So don't hold your breath for the cure of social change to be delivered by the 'west', although you have diagnosed Pakistan's 'disease' accurately, imho.
  
  The 'west' cannot see the wood for the trees at present and will probably fall in behind the truly awful Zardari, if he makes the right anti-Talib noises.
  
  As you point out, the poor, hungry dispossessed villagers of feudal Pakistan deserve much better.

  Link to this forum: A strategy to reverse Pakistan’s and the world’s imminent downfall

  Report message4

• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by shivfan (U2435266) on Wednesday, 15th October 2008

  To me, Pakistan is a country created from artificial borders, arising more out of expedience than anything else....
  
  Hence, the myriad of internal conflicts, and the inability of any political party to appeal to a wide cross-section of Pakistan. What do the tribal leaders of the North West Frontier Province have with the inhabitants of Karachi? I believe they even speak different languages....
  
  The inhabitants of the NWFP have more in common with Afghanis than the rest of Pakistan.
  
  To me, the best solution is a federal one, with the states given a certain level of devolution of power. THis is about creating a successful state of Pakistan, not putting in place a leadership that meets the approval of Western leaders....
  
  But of course, the latter has always been the main concern of the West.

  Link to this forum: A strategy to reverse Pakistan’s and the world’s imminent downfall

  Report message5

• Message 6

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by lindavid (U10745308) on Wednesday, 15th October 2008

  The strategy required to solve the problems in Pakistan and other nearby countries is to not suck up to them and expect them to play ball, those in charge are clinging on due to the wests fail-er to take control of the situation.
  the wet liberal approach that the so called informed take is the problem, these people in Pakistan do not have the same values as us and will not sit down and discuss these issues and come to agreement. people in the west should know that their whole way of life is under threat and will be destroyed.
  the way the west expects democracy in these Islamic countries is naive, there cannot be Islam does not allow it, just look at the issue of women's rights and the way gays are treated.
  the only way out is to remove this and all other religion from the planet, be this by recolonisation of the sub continent so be it.

  Link to this forum: A strategy to reverse Pakistan’s and the world’s imminent downfall

  Report message6

Back to top