Pakistan's future

[A$HU]

Pakistan's Future Depends on India, China and the US

Stephen P. Cohen | Asian Journal of Public Affairs |

While Pakistan is often called a failed state it is more accurately labeled as a flailing state. The PPP-PML coalition cannot solve every problem alone but needs help from India, China and the US. These nations, which had once contributed to the distortion of Pakistani politics, may now play a positive role in assisting Pakistanis develop a democratic order to cope with several critical challenges.

The PPP-PML coalition cannot solve every problem alone but needs help from outside nations. These nations, which had once contributed to the distortion of Pakistani politics, may now play a positive role in assisting Pakistanis develop a democratic order to cope with several critical challenges.

* India, Pakistan's largest neighbor, could surely play the largest role in helping shape Pakistan's democratic future. Tensions between the two are still high. The conflict over Kashmir and Pakistan's support for Islamic extremists are just two issues that will not be resolved in the near future. However, Pakistan's attitude toward India has changed markedly and it now makes sense to open economic ties, encourage non-official dialogue and academic exchange to help the process of mutual cooperation and help dispel old rivalries. India, by showing their support as natural partners, also needs to convince Pakistan that its intentions in Afghanistan are not part of an encirclement strategy.

* China is regarded in Pakistan as its oldest, most trusted friend, but it is concerned about Pakistan's growing Islamic extremism. Even through a democratic Pakistan is not a goal for China, it is even willing to work with other states, like the US, to help stabilize and develop a competent civilian government that enables a transit route from Western China to the Arabian Sea and the Middle East.

* The United States has long supported military regimes in Pakistan until Benazir Bhutto promised a more effective anti-terror strategy than Musharraf could deliver. Washington had not make it clear that it supported all democratic forces in Pakistan, yet the American ambassador has now set an example in doing so in the form of meetings with a wide range of newly elected officials and newly freed judges. America should also make its military assistance conditional, as it has been paying too much for too little cooperation. Yet, it should work with like-minded states, notably Japan and the EU countries, to ensure the increase and effectiveness of developmental and educational programs.

Pakistan's government agencies had been systematically starved over the years, which justified army rule as being the only organized way for the region to function. New investment and aid strategies, not only from the US, but also from states in the EU and wealthy Asian powers, will help to rebuild Pakistan's enfeebled bureaucracy.

Its key function regarding terrorism, its nuclear capabilities, and its potential as a moderate Muslim state constitute Pakistan's special political role. Even though saving Pakistan will be tough, politicians, journalists, and academics are finally realizing that this is the last chance for a secular and moderate state.

This summary was prepared by the Atlantic Community editorial team from "Pakistan's Second Last Chance" published here in the Asian Journal of Public Affairs

 

[TechLahore]

Even though saving Pakistan will be tough, politicians, journalists, and academics are finally realizing that this is the last chance for a secular and moderate state.

This summary was prepared by the Atlantic Community editorial team from "Pakistan's Second Last Chance" published here in the Asian Journal of Public Affairs

Another load of bull$hit...

Here is the reality:

Postmodern Pakistan | TechLahore

"... Tier-1 infrastructure. This too is an area that has seen absolutely tremendous improvement in the last 5-10 years. So much is being done in Pakistan – so much construction, so much building – that it is hard for me to list here. There are actually entire websites devoted to tracking projects worth billions and billions of USD$ that are in progress in Pakistan at any given moment. We started off with the Lahore-Isl Motorway. It took us 45 years to get to that level. And in the next 10, we exceeded Akbar’s penchant for building! The Sindh-Baluchistan Coastal Highway, a brand new port city in Gwadar, a new Airport in Lahore, international airport at Sialkot, two new ones being built in Islamabad (Pakistan’s largest) and Gwadar. Multiple dams are under construction, the M2 Motorway now connects with M1, so Lahore-Peshawar is an end to end six-lane super-highway. That network was also extended to Sargodha and Faisalabad (complete), from Karachi to Hyderabad (expansion), and now the highway network is shadowing the old Grand Trunk road, snaking down into Multan. We’ve also widened and upgraded the world’s highest highway, the Karakoram Friendship Highway and are building rail links through the length of Pakistan (Gwadar to China).

The number of hotels under construction in Pakistan will more than quadruple the number of 5-star rooms in the country; Hyatt in Lahore, another in Islamabad, Intercontinental in Islamabad, 7-star Centaurus in Islamabad etc. etc. The Sheikh Zayed complex under construction in Lahore will be completed in the next 3-4 years and will be the highest building in South Asia. On a clear day you will be able to see the Golden Temple from its observation deck. The neighbouring Software Park Tower, to be completed in the next 4-5 months, is a technological marvel. Lahore’s under construction Ring Road will put an almost 80km highway loop all around the city, making distant parts readily accessible, connecting the new housing societies and DHA (Defence Housing Authority) Phases to the older parts of the city. Just in Lahore alone, there will be a near doubling of modern housing capacity in the next decade with Defence Phase 6, 7, 8 and 9, Lake City (10,000 homes) and a plethora of others."

 

[Ahmad]

Why are you guys launching a FAILED STATE competetion with each other? I think majority of Asian countries are failed states.

 

[T-Faz]

This Stephen P Cohen has been on Paks back for some time, if we were to go by his analysis, many drastic things might have happened.

Also note that in 2007/8 many people commented of Paks demise but we still stand strong, now its "Pakistan's Second Last Chance".

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

Stephen Cohen is so senile now; do people even care what he has to say? Kemal Dervis of Brookings Institution did not have such flattering words for this man.

Not to say, I dont agree with some (sometimes many) things he has to say. But he has an agenda against Pakistan Armed Forces, and he isn't even good at hiding it.

This is unacceptable to us.

 

[zulfiqar74]

Rise Of Pakistan

Pakistan and democracy is like water an oil that cannot be mixed at least for another 50 or so years. We have journalists from various countries writing articles on issues in Pakistan and notion that it is becoming a fail estate. Unfortunately their formulation of concept lack understanding, imagination and education of this particular region. Second I think there is also a major hand of the media propoganda against Pakistan.

The problems Pakistan is facing that is becoming the cause of unrest in the country is cooruption, lack of patriot administrators on the top management, foreign intervention, lack of policies and implications and infrastructure. A regular formed think tank for every govt department that is sub divided to state, govt, so on and so forth comprising of the right people for the right position as currently 80 percent people in the govt just dont deserve to be there the 20 percent officals who would like to see a prosperous Pakistan their authority is bypassed by their higher authorities.

Kashmir is an issue for us for a long time. US has taken steps in other countries occupied situations like Israel palestine, Somalia, North and South Korea Kawait sending Un troops to soo many places how come not such action has been taken with the Kashmir issue I mean 64 years is more then half a century. Answer is very clear if it had oil, or gas or nuclear bomb or if it was israel then US would had steps. Thats the perspective Iam looking from as being US a super power always enforcing law an order in the world helping small state be giving them freedom bringing justice But not going into Kashmir as it is a small state striving for justice not helping kashmiris why Well this is positive for the US as it is an issue that keeps both India and Pakistan busy with each other while they sells arms, do special operations i.e spreading terrorism in India and Pakistan which we all are seeing for past 4 to 5 years which is now effecting Pakistan current situation, still both the countries are blind.

I think this is the best time for Pakistan to discuss the future of Kashmir, with the same attitude as either you are with us or against us policy with the US, PA is helping fight US war which is not ours US needs to help the kashmiris fight their struggle for an independent state Either you make kashmir an independent state or you help us get it back. Pakistan needs to express its idology to the UN for its efforts, man power and struggle for a war that not ours on the first place or they should give us Afghanistan. We will clear the whole region of terrorism and insurgents.

Mentioned somewhere by that Stephen P. Cohen | Asian Journal of Public Affairs)
Quote "saving Pakistan will be tough, politicians, journalists, and academics are finally realizing that this is the last chance for a secular and moderate state"

I think these are the few core steps Pakistan needs to enforce immediately

1) Pakistan should change its policies and the yes sir attitude with the US. its time to seriously address Pakistan agenda and sovereignty and the crisis facing the country.
2) Impliment tough measures on removal of all foreign defence personal and or contractors out of Pakistan except those contributing or aiding in areas of technology or contributing to the sovereignty of Pakistan. limitation in construction and presence of all foreign embassies and its staff in Pakistan except China.
3) UN nato forces to be deployed in the Afghanistan Pakistan boarder deployed on the Afghanistan side, stretching up to Iran to patrol and stop the insergents coming across while Pakistan clears its region of all the terrorists.
4) Pakistan should advise US to deploy mines on the Afghan side of the boarder to stop insergents coming into Pakistan as mines reduces the civil casulties. Also be responsible in removal of mines after.
5)Pakistan desperately needs honest, experienced, well versed patriotic leaders and dept heads to run this country and I believe a good mix of top military brass and wel versed Bureaucrats is just what Pakistan needs.
6)Pakistan needs new young blood with western understanding and eastern values
in all its other govt organisation depts from federal, state, local.
7) Pakistan should form strong relations in civil, defence to cultural aspect with EU, Soviets, Iran, UAE, Japan, arab nations as these are the allies we need in this war on terror as we speak. As we all know US is our top most ally I mean still we are the only US top most ally in the war on terror where our soldiers are dying in thousands.
8)Pakistan needs to form strong relations in the fata region to have their support in every aspect. Moniter and regulate any foreign intervention in FATA region and take drastic measures and steps to stop them.
9) Pakistan diplomatic mission should take an aggressive stand and regulate the world media for any news foreign and or domestic that attacks, undermines or can be threat the sovereignty of Pakistan.
10) Pakistan should demand a time frame on this war on terror as it is time that UN peace keepers should take over.
11) Regulate all the foreign aid coming into Pakistan and its expenditures.
12) Pakistan war on terror in the SWAT region should end before december 2010.
13) Corruption in the country is one of the main reason destabilizing the country which should be stopped. An anti corruption dept should be stablished by the joint intellegence agencies comprising of patriot individuals who main job is to stop corruption. This agency should have the highest level of authority and power on the same level as of ISI and MI, where no one should be spared from the very top to the very bottom in the govt and civil organisations with strict panalties and jail time.
14) There should be properly administered guidelines and policies provided to Religious and political group, under law which they should follow the policies. They should be constantly monitered, Drastic and immediate steps should be taken by the govt against both the if found going against the policies and guide lines provided by the govt.

Once these steps have been applied with a positive response, we can look into other areas as i believe these are the mildstones to make Pakistan one of the great states in the South East Asia

 

[chinapakistan]

* India, Pakistan's largest neighbor, could surely play the largest role in helping shape Pakistan's democratic future. Tensions between the two are still high. The conflict over Kashmir and Pakistan's support for Islamic extremists are just two issues that will not be resolved in the near future. However, Pakistan's attitude toward India has changed markedly and it now makes sense to open economic ties, encourage non-official dialogue and academic exchange to help the process of mutual cooperation and help dispel old rivalries. India, by showing their support as natural partners, also needs to convince Pakistan that its intentions in Afghanistan are not part of an encirclement strategy.

I dont know who wrote this crap, but the writter is definitely an idiot.We can see it just from one statement of his article "India, Pakistan's largest neighbor.". I really failed to understand why pakistan's largest neighbor is india but not china?
What kind of criterion is he using? Population? Land scale? economy?
If talk about the number of hindi believers, yes, india is the largest neighbor of pakistan.
BTW: My conclusion is this writter maybe even have no idea about where is US, china and pakistan, so his article is just crap.