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WishLivePak let me see if I understand your point. You are saying that Pakistan needs to gain its own strength rather than depending on other nations. What I don't understand is when a nation that is 7 times the people you have and 7 times the resources you have and that nation is trying to destabilize and fragment your country, how do you face that situation just by yourself from your own strength?
Consider Japan, one of the most developed countries of the world. But it has a population that is 1/10 th that of China. Now China is growing and slowly becoming more developed, GDP is rising steadily and military strength is also rising. If China wanted to behave like India, interfering in all neighbor nations, trying to destabilize them, then would Japan be able to do anything to prevent this interference, without US bases there and a mutual defense treaty with the US? Japan is already at its limits of development and when the China reaches even close to that stage of development, Japan would have no hope to counter that threat coming from China, unless Japan becomes a willing partner in some kind of economic union with China (essentially submitting to Chinese supremacy and loose some sovereignty) or bring in outside powers to balance the threat.
So how does Pakistan just gaining its own strength solve this power imbalance? And how is it even possible for Pakistan to develop and gain strength, when India is getting more powerful and will increasingly deploy more resources to destabilize Pakistan? Or do you have doubts that India does not do anything to destabilize its neighbors including Pakistan?
Thanks for putting your words nicely. Easy to understand and no personal attacks.
Pakistan at this time of the day cannot be independent. It can also not progress without the help of foreign countries, like China for example. What I wish to see is a prosperous Pakistan. Now, Pakistan has a bright future, if it manages itself properly.
What I say about China-Pak relationship is that, China has vested interests. It helps Pakistan because Pakistan is able to give something back. There could be a time in the future when Pakistan is not at all important and China could not be able to help the same way as it'll help Pakistan today. There is no doubt that Chinese gov't loves Pakistan and that Pakistan loves China, but we're not sure what future holds for us.
For that matter, we need to prepare ourselves. We need to have a roadmap where in the future, we are seen much more independent than today. Where we don't have to rely only on Chinese loans or Saudi grants. We have to have investments from many countries. Like the French, the Germans, the Aussies and so forth, investing in Pakistan.
The above somewhats clarifies my stance and answers your first paragraph. To summarize, Pakistan can do all it wants now, but it needs to have a roadmap and understanding that in the future, it needs to diversify investment and be more independent than today.
Going over your second discussion.
Japan is important to US due to its massive markets. Japan invests in US. It has made plants in US. Making cars, TV, electronics and whatnot. To see Japan collapsing, a major chunk of American GDP will collapse. What does Pakistan have to offer to US? Mangoes? Clothing? More acurately, what does Pakistan have to offer to China? China wants to feed its western areas. With Gawadar linkage, it can cut the distance covered tremendously, saving China so much money. Instead of big ships going around the Indian ocean, into Philipines and Singapore territory, much of that trade can go through Gawadar instead. So it makes sense for China to invest in Gawadar. This is a case of "interests." If lets say Pakistan is faced with embargo or anything, which limits China's complete freedom of trade with Pakistan, things will look bad.
But forget that, that may not happen. So let's talk about why Japan is more important to US than Pakistan is to China, trade wise. As already mentioned, Japan sinking means US losing GDP. Pakistan sinking, China won't be losing much trade.
Now I did not mention US using Japan as a place to counter Chinese threat. US loves creating bases. So does China. That's why China wants to see a strong Pakistan. But here's the difference. Japan offers strategy and economy, whereas Pakistan offers strategy but little economy. Thus, we know Japan has higher importance for US than China has for Pakistan "in the future."
To answer your third para.
Pakistan cannot counter this power imbalance. What I wish to see is Pakistan holding on its own. If there comes a time of embargo, like that of Iran, Pakistan is able to feed its people and people do not starve to death. This is what I mean by strong Pakistan. I do not mean at all that Pakistan has 200 F-35 jets, 5 air craft carriers. But what Pakistan can do to protect its own people.
With that said, it is no threat that India is gaining power. India is 5 times bigger in population. They're bound to have a greater GDP than ours. But the point is, who cares more of its people. If India is to be faced with embargo (I'm just giving example, it's likely to never happen), I'm sure India will be able to feed its people much than Pakistan.
Also this is old theory that India is trying to destabilize Pakistan. It can be 1% correct, but a destablize Pakistan is a headache for India. A destablized Afghan means tons of taliban members entering and attacking Pakistan. When Pakistan is destabalized, India will face same threat. Look at Syria for example, desalinizing is threatening Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Jordan.
Yes India does have hands, which I personally feel, into attacks in Pakistan and whatnot, but it certainly does not want Pakistan as a failed nation. This isn't about ego here "oh look, failed nation. why you separate?" But a stabilized Pakistan is actually better for India as it can trade with it, grow its economy and work on reducing poverty instead of facing threat of taliban attacks.
I hope I cleared some confusion that you may have had.
