Is Pakistan a failed state? No.

[contender]

Is Pakistan a failed state? No.
By C. Christine Fair, June 24, 2010

Once again, Pakistan looms as a country deemed to be "critical" in Foreign Policy's annual Failed State Index. But Pakistan is not a failed state, even though some of its institutions have declined in capacity, while others never worked well from the start. This year, Pakistan ranks tenth, below several African countries, Afghanistan, and Iraq, and above Haiti, which has recently been devastated by an earthquake.

Few would disagree that Pakistan has numerous problems. According to the UNDP, Pakistan ranks 141 among 182 states included in its Human Development Index. The Human Poverty Index ranks Pakistan 101 of 135. And the country has an abysmal track record at building the capacity of women, ranked at 152 of 155 countries assessed.

Democracy has returned, after numerous bouts of military interventions and democratus interruptus. But, Pakistan's political and civilian institutions lack capacity and competence. While the military takes the blame for this, civilian institutions always legitimize the coups. The Pakistani Supreme Court validates the coup and the dictators' orders and even take an oath to support him. Those jurists who uphold their commitment to the Constitution are booted out and replaced with compliant judicial lackeys. The military leader invariably assembles a "King's Party," by co-opting the most self-serving politicians who put personal power over principle. Finally, they are elected in flawed contests which produces a weak parliament which rubberstamps the diktats of the military leader.

Following a showdown between the Supreme Court and then President and General Pervez Musharraf over the dubious privatization of state assets at below-market prices to favored individuals and the court's insistence that the government produce "missing persons" captured or detained in the war on terror, the Supreme Court is no longer supine and has become an activist institution. Citizens are nonplussed. They want a competent court that understands its place within the balance of power.

Moreover, after decades of supporting Islamist militants in Afghanistan and India, Pakistan now faces a serious domestic threat from some elements of their erstwhile proxies. In past years, Pakistan had a mixed track record in confronting the Pakistan Taliban (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan), which the public overwhelmingly opposed until April 2009.

So, Pakistan faces severe challenges. But Pakistan has also made important strides which are not captured by this index.

First, Pakistan has taken the challenge of defeating the Pakistani Taliban seriously. The excesses of the militants in Swat, their refusal to honor a controversial peace deal, a video revealing their beating a young woman and their subsequent public rejections of the Constitution and democracy hardened public opinion toward them. The public's resistance to military operations decreased, and support for the various peace deals declined. Pakistan's Army and Frontier Corps are taking up the fight and appear to have their citizenry with them.

Unfortunately, the media tends to conflate all militants under the unhelpful rubric of "the Taliban": the "Afghan Taliban," "Pakistani Taliban," or the misnamed "Punjabi Taliban." Given the propensity to call these and other groups "extremists" or "insurgents," media reports deride the efforts of the Pakistan Army to defeat the TTP.

This is unfair. The Pakistan Army and the Frontier Corps face a formidable foe. The Frontier Corps lacks basic equipment and training, including battlefield first aid. If they are injured, they often bleed out before they can get to a medical facility. Their lack of battlefield medical evacuation, smart artillery, and close air support makes their battle against the militants all the more sobering. Previous reports about Frontier Corps defection and even collaboration with the Afghan Taliban appear to be increasingly less relevant.

Second, though it has a long way to go, Pakistan has made enormous investments in its internal security apparatus. The Pakistani Army now understands the need for competent police forces as well as an increasingly competent Frontier Corps as key elements in the "holding" phase after clearing militants of an area. The Army knows it can't sit in places like Swat indefinitely.

Third, Pakistan continues to make strides with decreasing fertility and expanding educational opportunities. Although state-run institutions such as the public schools are a disaster, affordable private schools are spreading throughout Pakistan.

Fourth, Pakistan continues to build its infrastructure. Pakistan is increasingly connected with improved roads. That said, Pakistan does face enormous electricity shortages due to Musharraf's failure to make a single investment in this sector during his 10-year tenure.

Fifth, while the specter of A.Q. Khan's nuclear black market -- and his ties to the state -- haunt Pakistan, and while Pakistan has long conducted asymmetric warfare under its nuclear umbrella, Pakistan has made significant strides in securing its nuclear arsenal through the establishment of the National Command Authority and the Strategic Plans Directorate. It should be remembered that the U.S. Air Force "lost" several nuclear warheads for some 36 hours in August 2007. (The air chief was among some 70 people who were punished.) If the United States can have such a lapse after decades of investing in nuclear-security protocols, Pakistan's relatively nascent institutions may not be foolproof.

Finally, throughout the 1990s, no democratically elected government served out its term, with the opposition colluding the military to prorogue the parliament and call fresh elections. In fact, the first parliament to serve out its complete term was that elected in the problematic 2002 elections. The election of 2008, despite a difficult start with voter registration and manipulation of electoral rules, was reasonably fair and peaceful, despite Taliban threats to disrupt the process. That election saw the peaceful and democratic transfer of power which brought President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani into office.

Despite the problems with President Zardari, who is widely viewed as corrupt, an important shift has taken place politically. Perhaps under Army pressure, Zardari began relinquishing the sweeping presidential powers he inherited from Musharraf. In April 2010, Zardari signed the 18th Amendment which returned Pakistan to a parliamentary democracy more in line with its 1973 Constitution, which remains the lodestone of democratic legitimacy in Pakistan. This is the first time in recent history when a president "willingly" ceded power to a prime minister.

In short, the Failed States Index is clearly only one side of the die. While sitting at a computer crunching numbers, even with expert input as the index apparently uses, the larger story is missed. Pakistan has its problems and enormous challenges lay ahead, but it is far from a failed or even failing state.

C. Christine Fair is an assistant professor at Georgetown University and a visiting scholar at the Lahore University of Management Science.
Is Pakistan a failed state? No. - By C. Christine Fair | The AfPak Channel

 

[Kompromat]

Pakistan making vital strides, not a failing state: US expert

Thursday, 24 Jun, 2010

WASHINGTON: Citing return of democracy, successful anti-militant operations and an expanding infrastructure network, a top United States expert on south Asia has said Pakistan is making vital strides in the face of numerous challenges and is not a failing state, as wrongly bracketted by a recent Foreign Policy Index.

“The Failed States Index is clearly only one side of the die. While sitting at a computer crunching numbers, even with expert input as the index apparently uses, the larger story is missed,” Christine Fair, an eminent political scientist, contended on the Foreign Policy magazine website.

“Pakistan has its problems and enormous challenges lay ahead, but it is far from a failed or even failing state,” wrote Dr. Fair, who is an assistant professor at the Georgetown University.

“Democracy has returned, after numerous bouts of military interventions and democritus interruptus,” she noted. Fair also referred to the important shift that recently took place politically in Pakistan when President Zardari began relinquishing the sweeping presidential powers he inherited from Musharraf.

“In April 2010, Zardari signed the 18th Amendment which returned Pakistan to a parliamentary democracy more in line with its 1973 constitution, which remains the lodestone of democratic legitimacy in Pakistan. This is the first time in recent history when a president 'willingly' ceded power to a prime minister.”

She contrasted the recent democratic advances with the fragile democratic situation besetting the country throughout the 1990s, when no democratically elected government served out its term.

“The election of 2008, despite a difficult start with voter registration and manipulation of electoral rules, was reasonably fair and peaceful, despite Taliban threats to disrupt the process. That election saw the peaceful and democratic transfer of power which brought President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani into office.”

The expert on South Asia begins her argument emphasizing Pakistan's achievements with the country's military successes in the ongoing high-stakes fight against militancy.

“Pakistan has taken the challenge of defeating the Pakistani Taliban seriously, Pakistan's army and Frontier Corps are taking up the fight and appear to have their citizenry with them,” she noted, while regretting that the massive Pakistani security effort does not get enough appreciation in the media.

“This is unfair. The Pakistan army and the Frontier Corps face a formidable foe,” she added, while also pointing out limited resources available. The expert also wrote though Pakistan has a long way to go, it has made enormous investments in its internal security apparatus.

SHe said there is clear understanding about the need for competent police forces as well as an increasingly competent Frontier Corps as key elements in the “holding” phase after clearing militants of an area.

On the socio-economic front, Fair remarked that Pakistan also continues to make progress with decreasing fertility and expanding educational opportunities. Although state run institutions such as the public schools are not performing satisfactorily, affordable private schools are spreading throughout Pakistan, she noted. In terms of development, Fair drew attention to the fact that Pakistan continues to build its infrastructure.

“Pakistan is increasingly connected with improved roads. That said, Pakistan does face enormous electricity shortages due to Musharraf's failure to make a single investment in this sector during his ten year tenure.”

In addition, “Pakistan also has made significant strides in securing its nuclear arsenal through the establishment of the National Command Authority and the Strategic Plans Directorate,” the expert observed with respect to safety of Pakistan's nuclear program. -APP

DAWN.COM | World | Pakistan making vital strides, not a failing state: US expert

 

[Hammy007]

pakistan is a failed state because we have american stooges in our government, we are heading no where, our ultimate goal and future aim has become "war on terror", the president is not even metric pass..

drone attacks are being made but pakistani government is silent, because americans are paying them in the name of aid, which is actually meant for pakistanis!!


inflation is rising, people are becoming tired of living a low standard live, can hardly afford cheap stuff like wheat, rice, etc, but govt is focusing on "taking revenge", dealing with americans, power shortages is declining to a dangerous level and the govt is silent..

 

[Old School]

Somalia is a failed state where is neither a government nor a central bank. FATA is a failed administrative area. But Pakistan can not be termed as a failing state yet. However, if we fail to tackle the religious anarchy inside Pakistan , it will become similar to FATA ( Failed Administrative Tribal Area) and effectively a failed state. Denial will not benefit anyone and sooner we recognize the challenge , the better it is before there is a point of no return.

 

[fatman17]

Pakistan making vital strides, not a failing state: US expert

Thursday, 24 Jun, 2010

An eminent political scientist in the United States cited President Zardari's relinquishing of powers inherited from Musharraf as an important shift that recently took place politically in Pakistan.

WASHINGTON: Citing return of democracy, successful anti-militant operations and an expanding infrastructure network, a top United States expert on south Asia has said Pakistan is making vital strides in the face of numerous challenges and is not a failing state, as wrongly bracketted by a recent Foreign Policy Index.

“The Failed States Index is clearly only one side of the die. While sitting at a computer crunching numbers, even with expert input as the index apparently uses, the larger story is missed,” Christine Fair, an eminent political scientist, contended on the Foreign Policy magazine website.

“Pakistan has its problems and enormous challenges lay ahead, but it is far from a failed or even failing state,” wrote Dr. Fair, who is an assistant professor at the Georgetown University.

“Democracy has returned, after numerous bouts of military interventions and democritus interruptus,” she noted. Fair also referred to the important shift that recently took place politically in Pakistan when President Zardari began relinquishing the sweeping presidential powers he inherited from Musharraf.

“In April 2010, Zardari signed the 18th Amendment which returned Pakistan to a parliamentary democracy more in line with its 1973 constitution, which remains the lodestone of democratic legitimacy in Pakistan. This is the first time in recent history when a president 'willingly' ceded power to a prime minister.”

She contrasted the recent democratic advances with the fragile democratic situation besetting the country throughout the 1990s, when no democratically elected government served out its term.

“The election of 2008, despite a difficult start with voter registration and manipulation of electoral rules, was reasonably fair and peaceful, despite Taliban threats to disrupt the process. That election saw the peaceful and democratic transfer of power which brought President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani into office.”

The expert on South Asia begins her argument emphasizing Pakistan's achievements with the country's military successes in the ongoing high-stakes fight against militancy.

“Pakistan has taken the challenge of defeating the Pakistani Taliban seriously, Pakistan's army and Frontier Corps are taking up the fight and appear to have their citizenry with them,” she noted, while regretting that the massive Pakistani security effort does not get enough appreciation in the media.

“This is unfair. The Pakistan army and the Frontier Corps face a formidable foe,” she added, while also pointing out limited resources available. The expert also wrote though Pakistan has a long way to go, it has made enormous investments in its internal security apparatus.

SHe said there is clear understanding about the need for competent police forces as well as an increasingly competent Frontier Corps as key elements in the “holding” phase after clearing militants of an area.

On the socio-economic front, Fair remarked that Pakistan also continues to make progress with decreasing fertility and expanding educational opportunities. Although state run institutions such as the public schools are not performing satisfactorily, affordable private schools are spreading throughout Pakistan, she noted. In terms of development, Fair drew attention to the fact that Pakistan continues to build its infrastructure.

“Pakistan is increasingly connected with improved roads. That said, Pakistan does face enormous electricity shortages due to Musharraf's failure to make a single investment in this sector during his ten year tenure.”

In addition, “Pakistan also has made significant strides in securing its nuclear arsenal through the establishment of the National Command Authority and the Strategic Plans Directorate,” the expert observed with respect to safety of Pakistan's nuclear program. -APP

 

[naveed qaiser]

Usually the editors of newspapers sack such young reporter who starts using the newspaper space for settling their personal scores. But what if an absentee group editor with a lifetime in the profession gets into such an unethical practice?
The passing of the historic 18th Amendment and its implementation now in progress should suffice to rebut this ridiculous charge. In fact this latest outburst of political outcasts emanates from this success of the Pakistani people and the heroic act of Mr. Asif Ali Zardari to return the powers of the elected Leader of the House in the National Assembly i.e. Prime Minister of Pakistan. The power belongs to the people of Pakistan and not to whom he wishes it should. It is the mission of the Pakistan Peoples Party to empower the people of Pakistan. Actually Mr. Zardari presided over the peaceful transfer of power from the office of the President to the office of the Prime Minister.

 

[Storm Force]

Comparing to other Islamic countries like Turkey Saudi or Indonesia i would say yes its a failed state has their has nver been a democratic gov,t free from military influence and it seems to be in state of war for 60 years not just with india but itself.

How ever if ou compare to somalia or other tin pot regime than no. it is clearly not a failure having a strong military and nuke weapons and good relations with china and usa and arabs.

Depends on your standards and expectations of failed state are

 

[RescueRanger]

Well all i can say is, i was 9 when i first heard Pakistan being called a "Failed State", and here i am today a father of two... Pakistan is still live and kicking, in my book we are anything but a failed state.

People just have high expectations from Pakistan, give it time. Pakistan has a lot more to offer the world then people at present care to fathom.

 

[Justin Joseph]

Another interesting article from the same author "C. Christine Fair", it will help in understanding his view point.

C. Christine Fair: Pakistan's Partial War on Terror - WSJ.com

 

[footmarks]

NO, pak is not a failed state, it cant be.Most of the problems present inside pak like poverty, corruption etc are present everywhere else too. Only thing that needs to be checked is extremism and hyper strong military which is independent of govt control and runs parallaly. A free running military not controlled by civilian govt is dangerous because military officials only know of tactical thinking, they are always in "war mode" of thinking. Give them a free hand and they will always think of going to war, because it is all they have been taught odf and trained for. Pak military is very very patriotic, no doubt. But military is for fighting, not for ruling.

 

[javaman]

too much dependence on americans!!!!!!!!,this is the concern

 

[prototype]

failed state does not mean that it only take economy into account,one of the reason why Pakistan is present on the top slot is because of the ever growing insurgency,add to it the lawless areas of western Pakistan

 

[RobbieS]

To be fair, its not only wrong but an extreme exaggeration to call Pakistan a failed state. Its going through tough times and seems to be struggling but it can surely bounce back and continue on the path to progress.

 

[WAQAS119]

Alistair Scrutton first joined Reuters in 1998 as correspondent in Peru. Then he moved to Buenos Aires as senior correspondent for southern Latin America, covering coups in Bolivia, rebel violence in Peru and Argentina's 2001-2002 economic explosion which sparked the world's biggest sovereign debt default. Next, as Editor in Charge for Political And General News in Latin America he spearheaded coverage across the region. In 2007, he moved to India as chief correspondent, where he has focused on India's economic and political story as well as traveling to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nepal. In the following story, Scrutton writes about his experiences driving down a Pakistani motorway, which is like a six-lane highway to paradise in a country that usually makes headlines for suicide bombers, army offensives and political mayhem.



By Alistair Scrutton

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - If you want a slice of peace and stability in a country with a reputation for violence and chaos, try Pakistan's M2 motorway.

At times foreign reporters need to a give a nation a rest from their instinctive cynicism. I feel like that with Pakistan each time I whizz along the M2 between Islamabad and Lahore, the only motorway I know that inspires me to write.

Now, if the M2 conjures images of bland, spotless tarmac interspersed with gas stations and fast food outlets, you would be right. But this is South Asia, land of potholes, reckless driving and the occasional invasion of livestock.

And this is Pakistan, for many a "failed state." Here, blandness can inspire almost heady optimism.

Built in the 1990s at a cost of around $1 billion, the 228-mile (367-km) motorway -- which continues to Peshawar as the M1 -- is like a six-lane highway to paradise in a country that usually makes headlines for suicide bombers, army offensives and political mayhem.

Indeed, for sheer spotlessness, efficiency and emptiness there is nothing like the M2 in the rest of South Asia.

It puts paid to what's on offer in Pakistan's traditional foe and emerging economic giant India, where village culture stubbornly refuses to cede to even the most modern motorways, making them battlegrounds of rickshaws, lorries and cows.

There are many things in Pakistan that don't get into the news. Daily life, for one. Pakistani hospitality to strangers, foreigners like myself included, is another. The M2 is another sign that all is not what it appears in Pakistan, that much lies hidden behind the bad news.

On a recent M2 trip, my driver whizzed along but kept his speedometer firmly placed on the speed limit. Here in this South Asian Alice's Wonderland, the special highway police are considered incorruptible. The motorway is so empty one wonders if it really cuts through one of the region's most populated regions.

"130, OK, but 131 is a fine," said the driver, Noshad Khan. "The police have cameras," he added, almost proudly. His hand waved around in the car, clenched in the form of a gun.

On one of my first trips to Pakistan. I arrived at the border having just negotiated a one-lane country road in India with cows, rickshaws and donkey-driven carts.

I toted my luggage over to the Pakistan side, and within a short time my Pakistani taxi purred along the tarmac. The driver proudly showed off his English and played U.S. rock on FM radio. The announcer even had an American accent. Pakistan, for a moment, receded, and my M2 trip began.

Built in the 1990s by then prime minister Nawaz Sharif, it was part of his dream of a motorway that would unite Pakistan with Afghanistan and central Asia.

For supporters it shows the potential of Pakistan. Its detractors say it was a waste of money, a white elephant that was a grandiose plaything for Sharif.

But while his dreams for the motorway foundered along with many of Pakistan, somehow the Islamabad-Lahore stretch has survived assassinations, coups and bombs.

A relatively expensive toll means it is a motorway for the privileged. Poorer Pakistanis use the older trunk road nearby tracing an ancient route that once ran thousands of miles to eastern India. The road is shorter, busier and takes nearly an hour longer.

On my latest trip, I passed the lonely occasional worker in an orange suit sweeping the edge of the motorway in a seemingly Sisyphean task.

A fence keeps out the donkeys and horse-driven carts. Service centres are almost indistinguishable from any service station in the West, aside perhaps from the spotless mosques.

The real Pakistan can be seen from the car window, but in the distance. Colorful painted lorries still ply those roads. Dirt poor villagers toil in brick factories, farmers on donkey carts go about their business.

Of course, four hours of mundane travel is quite enough. Arriving in Lahore, the road suddenly turns into South Asia once again. Dust seeps through the open car window, endless honks sound, beggars knock on car windows. The driver begins again his daily, dangerous battle for road supremacy.

As Pakistan unveils itself in all its vibrancy, it is exciting to be back. But you can't help feel a tinge of regret at having experienced, briefly, a lost dream.

"Motorway good - but Pakistan," Noshad said at the last petrol station before we entered Lahore. "Terrorism, Rawalpindi," he added, referring to the latest militant attack on a mosque in the garrison town which killed dozens.


WITNESS: Failed state? Try Pakistan's M2 motorway | Reuters

 

[Jackdaws]

There is no real definition for a "failed state" - some will always have points to argue about it and some against it. Point is Pakistan should not be mentioned as a "failed state" - there ought to be no debate. 10-15 years ago Bangladesh was called "basket case of Asia" - no one says that anymore - despite problems they did something right. Pakistan should follow suit.