IMHO ... we should accept the failure. It's the only way we could get angry enough at our establishment and other status-quo factors. I'm not saying we're as bad as the stats may show, but we need to think like that so that we don't give our leaders a pass.
Many people fall into this trap of war on terror, wars with india and insurgency. Lets look at the facts. In both Afghan wars, Pakistani economy actually did well as US support was there.
Just as an example, property values during 1980s and in 2000s sky rocketed.
How can some one make Afghan wars as an excuse of a downfall? Yes every war has a price and these ones had one too, but it had nothing to do with incompetence in running the country.
The problem is institutional corruption.
Get rich but dont pay tax.
Increase indirect taxes and turn SOEs into employment agencies to fund them.
Do not document the economy and continue smuggling.
When foreign aid dries up take loans, but never document economy.
Shadow economy in Pakistan is more than 80%. We need only 50 billion dollars US to run the country with ease. We cant even do that.
Secondly, the establishment is to blame because it deals with the politicians with a carrot and stick policy and introduces no reforms.
Lastly, anti state elements only became stronger because the state became weaker.
Why we couldn't create an credible
internal intel agency like shin bet in israel, or ISD like singapore or FSB in russia? All we have is highly unprofessional and dysfunctional FIA and IB where people go for
"Kamai"