For bashers targeting Dalrymple, quit it. Just because you don't agree with the person's opinions on Indian infrastructure, it doesn't mean you start making personal attacks on him. Shoot the message, not the messenger.
In my opinion, there is an element of truth to his allegations about infrastructure such as roads, airports, etc. We have a long way to go when even compared to Pakistan.
As for Riaz's article, he conveniently takes Dalrymple's criticism on Indian infrastructure such as roads and airports and extends it to the Indian government system. I am not sure if he himself has heard the rest of the argument. For the reader's sake, let me summarise it here.
He first compares India and Pakistan and mentions that both countries are very similar and share similar problems which includes ongoing insurgencies. He describes how both countries have similar growth patterns and also mentions that the infrastructure in Pakistan is noticeable different to the infrastructure in India.
According to Dalrymple, Pakistan faces the following three problems.
a) Flawed democracy in Pakistan where a small number of elite have a disproportionately large say in the government. The land reforms which were introduced in the 50s in India allowed democracy to be controlled by the middle classes which allowed it to flourish. This is just happening in Pakistan. He busts a myth here about the popularity of religious parties in politics in Pakistan..
b) The relationship between the Pakistani army and the jihadies.
c) The desperate education crises wherein literacy is falling in Pakistan while it is increasing in places like India.
He does stress that Pakistan is no where close to being a failed state. It is however on the crossroads where it needs to take steps to tackle the problems mentioned above.
Riaz has just taken one criticism about infrastructure and run amok with it. The rest of Riaz's article is just a rehash of his old articles where he loves to compare Pakistan and India.
I generally don't like to talk about people and stick to my earlier mantra of attacking the message and not the messenger. However in this case, I simply don't understand this author. He has an impressive bio which you would generally lead you to believe he is an intellectual and a deep thinker. I would have generally loved to listen to someone with his credentials. However all his articles are basically a pissing contest. I just wish this author moves away from writing such kind of negative articles which do not help anyone apart people who thrive on such kind of stupid comparisons.