As per a recently published report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) — an independent resource on global security, Pakistan is included in the top five importers of the major conventional weapons during 2008-2012 period. The other four top importers are also from Asia — India (12 percent of global imports), China (6 percent), South Korea (5 percent) and Singapore (4 percent). Pakistan’s share was 5 percent of the global weapons import.
I don’t want to comment on other countries’ import as it must be linked with the size of their economy and level of security threat, if any. But can Pakistan’ economy with per capita income of only US$ 1200 afford such a leisure? I would call it leisure when country’s power sector can’t produce electricity per its nameplates capacity which in turn is ruining its industries, where government-run education has badly suffered, when most of the development projects are either on hold or getting delayed, when condition of health centres has worsened, where millions of people are still deprived of clean water — all this is happening due to lack of funds (and of bad governance), when Pakistan is already burdened by perpetual national and international loans, when Pakistan is about to initiate negotiations with IMF for another loan of billions of dollars’ worth – can we still afford to import that many weapons?
There is no weight in the logic that we have to keep a deterrent or balance against India. We are a sovereign country, what is and what is not important for us shall be decided on rational grounds. Wish the upcoming government has some courage to take the country towards stability wherein such a stockpile of weapons may not be necessary. When we can’t change our neighbours, then we have to learn to live together, such as once foes Germany and France are now supplement to each other’s economy, or like Czech and Slovaks who got separated after a long union without any blood thirsty issue. Why can’t the same be applicable for Pakistan and India?
MASOOD KHAN
Jubail, Saudi Arabia
