The General’s Fiefdom. Review on Pakistan, General

Someone said: 4 marriages 5 Namaz’s 6 IDDs 12 Kids 30 Roza’s 5 supporting countries 1000 drug cartels 1 lakh terrorists 10 lakh smugglers 20 billion US$ loan makes a Pakistan..

Well, I must state that I may not agree to everything. But in general, that is the kind of image Pakistan has in the International arena. It may be argued that right now the International coalition is all praise for Pakistan, in fighting the International terrorism. Well, that is not without reason – US needs Pak to nab Osama. Honestly speaking, even on the surface it doesn’t appear that Pakistan is fully behind the International coalition. It is indeed a fact that the General is under tremendous pressure from within as well as outside. Some of the Muslim leaders have even said that, US has been using Pakistan as a condom, use it whenever required and then throw it. Behind this logic they site the past record of USA.

Pakistan appears to be a failed state for three main reasons (excluding many things which to a great extent are common to India and Pak):

1. Stifled Democracy: Well, at the very outset let me state that, I am not advocating democracy, afterall we do have very vibrant democracy in India, but sometimes I feel we’ve had enough of it. In case of Pakistan, I can’t really understand why this hypocrisy on the part of Pak rulers that they continue to count themselves amongst democratic nations. In some of the recent decrees the military jaunta has made it clear that they won’t allow Mrs. Benazir Bhutto and Mr. Nawaz Sharif into the country for fighting elections. It is amply clear that General Musharraf wants to make use of the Democratic Burqawhile remaining firmly in saddle.

2. No Charismatic leader even after 50 yrs of coming into existence, after Mr. Jinnah (the founder of Pakistan). Mr Z. A Bhutto, Mia Nawaz Sharif and Ms. Benazir Bhutto appear to be of International stature, but just see what have they done to all these leaders. The root cause of all evils looks to be the interfering role of Military in each and every field. That perhaps is the reason that the army could not focus much on their fighting skills and get the boot every time they venture into neighbouring territory. Gen. Parvez Musharraf did say that he knows how to govern and he too has the leadership qualities. But his behavior during the Agra visit said it all. He is yet to mature as a statesman. As a PR man he knows his basics well, I have had a first hand experience of interacting and observing him closely during the Agra summit, but…. it requires lot more than PR to be become a responsible and mature leader.

3. KASHMIR, KASHMIR,………………….. Why is it that Pakistan never thinks beyond Kashmir ? Knowing fully well that this issue has been a big drain on exchequer, knowing fully well that they have not succeeded to Internationalize the issue even after their best efforts, knowing fully well that the continuous support to fanatic elements on this issue has cornered them in the International arena why is it they continue to chant slogans like, Kashmir is in their blood ? Just for the simple reason the ruler of the day thinks that the moment he appears to be soft on the issue, his Kursi is gone. Well, Mr. Musharraf has started doing some noble work now (analysts say it is because he found big Indian army on the borders and pressure from US). But, whatever be the reason, full marks to the General for taking on these Tanzeems and the so-called Jihadi elements. Let us hope one fine day he’ll tell India, OK these are the guys you wanted for December 13 and IC 814, take hold of these and let us talk on the pending issues. Will that happen ? Let us keep fingers crossed, Insa-allah ……. ….