Spiga

A failed state

As news channels scramble to invite our foremost expert on internal security and religious fundamentalism (read Shah Rukh Khan) to do an interview and offer relief and hope to our ravaged nation, Pakistan continues to dally on its promises of "reacting on evidence, at least". The Acorn points out that it is high time that our neighbours stop sheating mounting evidence against the role of non-state actors in the Mumbai carnage and actually undertake action.

These demands may be a fig leaf to cover their own impotence against their military establishment, but they only have the effect of reinforcing the impression that the language of diplomacy is merely a frivolous sideshow when it comes to engaging Pakistan.

[The Acorn]

In all respects, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to judge that Pakistan is a failed state. Since the immediate post-Independence times, Pakistan has been a thorn in the South Asian geo-political status quo. Their invasion of Kashmir in 1947 is well documented in history and confirms Pakistan's hand as initiators of the unfathomable conflict. Pakistan is like a child of a family that was born in the midst of much fanfare and pride for a cause (the so-called Two Nation theory), but failed to deal with changing times, failed to mature into a fine adult and hence resorts to perpetual cribbing and snivelling in a need to propagate it's demands.

The FATA is virtually uncontrollable, the Army and the ISI are principal lawmakers, the civilian government is a pawn that puppets about in the international arena seeking attention and sympathy, their President is a full-time sycophant who intends to show some heart ("India is not a threat to Pakistan") in an arena where emotions mean little and failure to learn from history holds the aces. The Taliban's open challenge to the world that they are close to sealing the deal in Pakistan poses even more grave challenges to the plight of the idea of the country.

To worsen it, Pakistani "experts" revere about their "victory" in the Kargil conflict, speak of conspiracy theories of Indian involvement in Mumbai 26/11 and hence try to keep themselves happy in their nappies. This certain gentleman is braced up for a full-scale war and warns India of annihilation in case we undertook surgical air strikes on terror camps across Pakistan. He even has the cheek to call the 1998 nuclear tests a shift of power in the subcontinent, believes that Pakistan "won" the 2001-02 standoff post-Parliament and hence probably finds the solace to live and breathe.

Grow up, kid.







If you liked this post, you might want to subscribe to the RSS FEEDS

10 comments:

  J P Joshi

Monday, December 8, 2008 at 7:57:00 AM PST

Agree with you that Pakistanis are trying to fool themselves, and the world. They are at a loss to understand that the genie of terrorism that they let out of the bottle is finally going to devour them in the end unless they back off even now and the civilian government does something prudent, if the army and ISI lets them.

Pakistan is in turmoil, but I would not like it to fail, as having a failed Pakistan would lead to even more problems for us.

  aShyCarnalKid

Monday, December 8, 2008 at 2:28:00 PM PST

No wonder Jinnah said this to his sister after the partition "We backed the wrong horse" . Maybe he had a very strong premonition about his "the land of pure" . What a misnomer ! It is a failed state indeed , but what do you with a failed state ?

  Vinod_Sharma

Monday, December 8, 2008 at 7:16:00 PM PST

Pakistan may be a failed state. But major elements there are all united in their obsession to "unravel the Indian federation" as on TV commentator there described India after 11/26.

Diplomacy is the talk that works if the other party knows that there is a bite to follow if the words are not heeded. Otherwise, the result is what Pakistan has done: keep India tied down in interminable talks while continuing to strengthen and spread its network of terror.

  Jay

Monday, December 8, 2008 at 10:32:00 PM PST

This comment has been removed by the author.
  Jay

Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:57:00 PM PST


@J P Joshi
A failed Pakistan may not be in India's best interests, but we are spending too much time and energy on emerging as the subcontinental watchdog that is often stabbed in the back.

We need to kneel on our own interests, once and for all. Pakistan is a confirmed sponsor of terrorism, doesn't show any political will against it and is largely under the control of rogue institutions like the ISI.

  Jay

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:00:00 AM PST


@Kislay
Yes. Jinnah was probably right. Because it was Pakistan, with one religion, that "intended" to prosper on the basis of unity of people but it was India that rose above all prejudices against its diversity to become what it is today.

What do we do with a failed state? I believe we've shown enough sympathy to them over the years and now it is time we probably learn to "not give a damn" about it being a failed state or not and indulge in supporting our best interests.

Leave them to deal with their rot.

  Jay

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:01:00 AM PST


@Vinod Sharma
Spot on regarding what Pakistan has been doing over time. In the process, they make India bleed from the background of friendship and bilateral talks and what not.

  Indian Home Maker

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:13:00 AM PST

And finally Pakistan, under intense pressure from USA (and from India also) did start some kind of crackdown on it's self created Frankenstein terrorist camps.

And if we really want peace in the region then let's hope Pakistan finds some semblance of Democracy and prosperity. Poverty breeds terrorists just like it breeds other criminals.

  Jay

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 4:20:00 AM PST


@IHM
Yes, heard of that crackdown being initiated.

Regarding their semblance, I dont care whether they find it. I just hope we find ours very soon.

  Anonymous

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 9:11:00 AM PST

I believe that until and unless the whole world shuns Pakistan, the country is successful in fooling all of us. Finally, in the end, it is we who are suffering.
This country has to be declared a terrorist state.