Reality check needed

If we want to set our house in order…

It is not surprising that almost all Pakistanis want Pakistan to be the most powerful and prosperous state in the comity of nations. They want to lead a life of peace and security and they also want that no state should have right to question Pakistan’s domestic and external policies.

There is nothing wrong in preparing a wish list or dreaming about an ideal situation. However, if a state and society live only by a wish list and do not want to put their dreams to a reality check, they are bound to feel frustrated in case of failing to realise the wish list.

The wish list cannot be fully realised because it is unrealistic in the present socio-political context. However, Pakistan can overcome most of its problems and function as a normal state that manages its domestic and foreign policy issues in a reasonably effective manner. It can salvage its economy and cope with the growing socio-economic inequities.

This is possible only if its policy makers and the politically active circles moderate their wish list keeping in view their actual capacity and resources. They will have to change their mindset from sermonising others on what should be done and stop waiting for some “sincere leader” to appear for solving their problems.

Pakistan will have to seek strength from within. It should adopt a low and quiet profile at the global level and work for peace and stability on its border. This will give enough time to Pakistani leaders to devote fully to internal problems. If Pakistan wants to compete militarily with India, liberate Kashmir directly or through Islamic militant groups and seek a compliant government in Kabul, it will never be able to put its internal political and economic house in order.

Pakistan should learn from China’s strategy of modernising its economy and strengthening itself internally. It has defused tension with all bordering states. It has put aside (not abandoned) its territorial dispute with India. The volume of China’s trade with India is bigger than its trade with Pakistan. It has also developed trade relations with Taiwan and improved relations with other neighbours so that it is able to fully devote its resources to building its economy and strengthening economic ties with the rest of the world. It is expected to continue with this policy to keep its economic development rate in double digit for the next decade or so. This will enable China to project itself effectively at the global level at a later stage.

Pakistan should postpone its political agenda beyond its border for a decade and devote itself fully to internal issues and problems. Four issues have to be on the top of the priority list: revival of the economy and international trade, control of religious extremism and militancy, reduction of socio-economic inequities and greater emphasis on quality education and health facilities.

These objectives cannot be achieved without normalising relations with neighbouring states and increasing trade and economic ties with them. India and Iran are two countries that offer ample opportunities for expanding trade and economic ties. With Afghanistan, bilateral trade and transit-trade facilities need to be streamlined.

The 21st century is the era of knowledge, especially science and technology, greater movement of people, goods and services across territorial boundaries of the states and the welfare of people. Pakistan should acquire these currencies of power in the coming decades rather than nurturing Islamic militant groups that have trans-national ideological and political agendas.

This calls for toning down anti-America hysteria in Pakistan. This has intensified because it is now linked to Pakistan’s domestic power politics. As the Islamic parties and militant groups have found themselves under strong pressure from the US policy in Pakistan and Afghanistan since September 2001, they have turned against the US. In the pre-1990 period, Islamic groups and organisations were generally viewed as pro-US and worked in close harmony with the US for building up Afghan-Islamic resistance against the Soviet troops in Afghanistan in the 1980s.

The military and its intelligence apparatus have also used their connections and influence to strengthen anti-American sentiments to protect its interests in the domestic Pakistani context and to counteract US propaganda against the military and the ISI.

The anti-US discourse attributes Pakistan’s current internal security and economic problems to American policies in the region, coupled with anti-Pakistan policies of India and Israel. A large number of people, especially the political far right and Islamist-militant elements, think that Pakistan’s problems will be automatically resolved if the US quits the region and others stop conspiring against Pakistan.

This line of argument implies that there is nothing inherently wrong in Pakistan and therefore they do not have to do anything to improve Pakistan’s internal situation. It is the “outsiders,” who have to change their policies. This strategy of externalisation of Pakistan’s domestic problems may manifest a self-ascribed aura of righteousness but it dissuades the leaders and politically active people from rectifying their own deficiencies.

It is easy to talk about the national interests in broad and generalised terms like territorial security of the state, socio-economic development, internal harmony and stability, security of life, equality of opportunities and minimal use of violence and coercion for societal conflict management. However, there are operational problems of turning them into concrete plans of action and institutional arrangements and processes.

Pakistan needs to pursue a long term vision of a stable, secure and an economically viable country by discarding sloganeering for quick-fixes or seeking comfort in blaming others for Pakistan’s problems. Set the priorities through a dialogue among the competing interests in a democratic framework on what kind of Pakistan you need ten years from today. This requires shedding aside certain regressive ideological perspectives or seeking the future in the past. One can learn lessons from the past but the current issues have to be addressed in the present day context.

Do not expect other countries to pursue policies to Pakistan’s satisfaction. The Pakistani civilian and military leaders will have to adopt a realistic approach to put Pakistan’s economic and political house in order based on a down-to-earth reality check of the resources and capacity. Its domestic and foreign policy effort should give primacy in terms of policy-measures to enhance its internal economic strength, political stability and harmony. This can secure Pakistan against external “conspiracies” and enable it to play an active global role at a later stage. At this stage, Pakistan should focus on its internal issues and work towards peace on its border and evolve an active relationship with its neighbours.

The writer is an independent political and defence analyst.