I apologise for a quotation based reply, which is a personal pet peeve of mine, but you have raised so many divergent points, which need to be answered in a pointed manner.
The last time I omitted the name of Pakistan because Pakistanis do not like criticism of their country by a BD man. But, Pakistan has been making all those mistakes that have caused it to go almost bankrupt.
I have no problems with discussing any issues, none, provided a sound reasoning is provided, and a person is receptive to an open reply, all and everything is acceptable. Imagine the worse thing in your mind, and you can discuss it with me, it really is that simple.
Pakistan has made many mistakes, but none of those are solely the cause of Pakistan's troubles, it's is an extremely simple and sorry to say an ignorant understanding of Pakistan's realities. Not just by yourself, it's a widely held viewpoint, but it is a gross misunderstanding, because that viewpoint ignores core realties.
No major country in the world has faced the same troubles as Pakistan, which it has since independence, but let's stick with the Pakistan that exists today.
Since the 1970's, Pakistan has constantly felt the blowback of the Afghan wars, the Sunni/Shia troubles that resulted from the Saudi/Iran rivalry of the 1980s, the constant spread of terrorism by India, these things were going to have an effect, and they did. I read Bangladeshi officials crying about merely a million refugees, that have arrived only a few years ago. Pakistan has hosted 3-5 million Afghans for over 40 years and counting, plus it has 500,000 Rohingya since the 1980's, around a million Bangladeshi have settled since the 1970's, Pakistan took in refugees from other parts of the world, but no crying. They've gotten on with it.
Pakistan also faced American sanctions form 1965-82, then again from 1990-2002, and global sanctions from 1997-2002, much of the foreign aid it received was linked to mutual co-operation, so the aid was based on mutual benefits. Foreign embassies used to operate out of UAE, how do people forget all this? This is just the tip of the iceberg.
How was all this not going to have a negative effect? It was, and it did.
No other country has faced such situations, and certainly not Bangladesh.
Those are realities, to ignore them is just peddling in lies.
By the way, if India cannot be compared, why do you compare BD with the American example? Since 1947 BD people did not build a single meter of railroads by themselves. Indian or Chinese companies did all.
When did I say India cannot be compared? Please read again, now you're putting words in my mouth.
I tried to answer your questions, but to be frankly honest none of them were relevant, to say so would in my opinion have been rude. So I provided justified answers, which you have not countered, only raised new one's, which isn't right, you should answer my statements or close the discussion, not continue to raise new points.
I gave proper reasonings for each of the countries you had mentioned, please read again.
I would say we should follow the Indian example of building railroads, manufacturing railway lines, signaling equipment, building bridges, and manufacturing the components needed for a bridge.
You have ignored reality and gone into a fantasy world, sorry I don't mean to be rude, but I cannot describe it any other way.
India was able to do all those things because it had capabilities that it inherited from the British. It's because those industrial capabilities exited that India was able to do all those things you mentioned. It was given massive help, even after 1947.
Pakistan asked, but America refused to help build a steel plant, in the end Pakistan had to turn to the so called other camp, the Soviets, who were cash starved and were ready help Pakistan build one. Pakistan was a treaty ally and had close relations with America, but still they were unwilling to help build a steel plant. Anything you do has to be based on ground realities.
You cannot wish we should do this, or that, but ignore ground realties, that's just feeding fantasies.
Pakistan had asked American to help build a port in Gwadar and Ormara, another coastal town, it was refused. So before passing judging, please look at ground realities with earnest honesty, and not present an empty wish list.
India exploded an atomic bomb in 1974, by using illegal plutonium form a Canadian reactor. America was due to supply heavy water for use in that reactor, America did not stop, it supplied that heavy water within that year, despite those illegal actions by India.
But, it sanctioned Pakistan.
Realties, not fantasies.
I doubt much help has been available to Bangladesh either in the previous decades, other then simple aid. If China or anyone else is willing to help, I see no reason to refuse, but it's your country, I'm just providing a perspective.
It is a lame excuse to say India had this and that in 1947, so it can do this and that. The more we depend upon others the less we develop and the more we sink deep in loans. Not a good option.
How is that a lame excuse?
So for you fantasies are facts, but facts are fiction, with respect, are you feeling ok?
How can anyone ignore ground realities but create a wish list, failing which continue to condemn something that does not exist, it simply does not make sense.
No nation on earth has developed independently, they have all developed with the help and co-operation of other nations. You do not get to decide what help and co-operation you get, but you make the best of which options are available, and try to move forward. It really is that simple.
Foreign loans are a kind of alcohol that makes a country intoxicated for a few years and then everything goes away. Think of Latin American countries and now SL, Pakistan, or BD.
I'm sorry but that's an ignorant viewpoint.
Foreign loans are very effective at helping to resolve domestic issues. It is how you use them that's messed up. It points to internal weaknesses, just because a country has weak internal structures does not mean the source is wrong.
If a doctor says to take your medicine 3 times a day for a month, but you feel better after few days, and you start taking the medicine once a day, selling the rest for your benefit, that's your fault, you cannot blame the doctor.
Every nation on earth is corrupt, especially developing nations, it's a fact of life, you deal with it and move on, not cry about when actual development is taking place. Corruption is going to take place no matter what, but with railways, bridges and road, at least they are there, they cannot be taken away. Once built they will exist for the next 50 or 100 years, maybe better leaders will come and utilised more effectively.
However, I do agree that mindless and endless development is a wrong approach, a single project here and there is hardly endless development.
