It might be silly and I might be totally wrong. I'd like to think that what I wrote is a better explanation than just consistently "khassi" across the board lol.
Regarding Soviet invasion of Afghanistan: We played off one super power against another. We weren't bank rolling that effort.
Regarding US invasion of Afghanistan: We literally sided with the US and got all sorts of economic and military benefits for a decade after eventually falling out and we are seeing the economic consequences of that falling out.
Regarding Nuclear Program: That was really do or die and we would have accepted every kind of pressure for that.
You seem to be arguing that since we have borne some pressures we can bare all pressures. I don't agree with that logic. I think we have the ability to bare some pressures but our ability to bare pressures is remarkably small compared to our neighbors and competitors.
Iran Import/Export per capita = $155/ $202 (around $24 of this is oil export)
Pakistan Import/Export per capita = $34 / $13
1. Look how much more internationally integrated Iran is compared to Pakistan.
2. They are doing this while being under all of these global sanctions.
This really tells you how much of a gutter our economy is in.
source:
Exports in Iran decreased to 13498 USD Million in the second quarter of 2024 from 13646 USD Million in the first quarter of 2024. This page provides - Iran Exports - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.
tradingeconomics.com
Exports in Pakistan increased to 781234 PKR Million in September from 769399 PKR Million in August of 2024. This page provides - Pakistan Exports - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.
tradingeconomics.com
SriLinka did what? They are constantly being bullied by India. They were recently bullied into dropping the JF-17. They were able to defeat the LTTE because the world had no stake in destabilizing Sri Linka and they were able to play off support from Pakistan against Indian interests. Kind of like what we did in Afghanistan against Russia with US help.
IEA: Even they are opening girls schools now due to economic pressure. They are able to blackmail Pakistan with instability and refugees.
Leaders not caring about soldiers dying: I agree. Pakistani lives are worth less in their calculus. I would argue that this is also because of our economy but I don't want to sound like a broken record stuck on one point.
I'd like to think that we are not a nation of khassis and that given a half decent economic backbone we will do a lot of the things desired on this thread.