Twitter
Advertisement

Is Pakistan a failed state?

Recent statistics on terrorism and reports of some international bodies have also endorsed this point that Islamabad is heading towards becoming a failed state.

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Wednesday night’s devastating militant attack on Pakistan’s largest air base at Kamra in central Punjab province, which also houses the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, should keep India on tenterhooks. At a time when Pakistan’s new premier Raja Pervez Ashraf is trying to resolve all outstanding disputes with India, Islamabad’s continuous engagement with terrorists and growing inability to rein them in could cast a shadow over bilateral relations.

Even though, there has been no official report so far, experts don’t rule out a threat to India if the militants have succeeded in laying their hands on nukes. Professor Kalim Bahadur, a close observer on Pakistan and security issues says, “If these Islamist militants had expertise on nuclear weaponry then this incident could pose threat to any country.” Bahadur also reminded that several terrorist organisations operating in Pakistan have many nuclear weapon experts on their rolls. 
 
As per news reports, the air base at Kamra hosts a variety of fighter jets, including F-16s, and contains a factory that makes aircraft and other weapons systems.
 
That Pakistan has been passing through a state of unstable equilibrium is not surprising. Recent statistics on terrorism and reports of some international bodies have also endorsed this point that Islamabad is heading towards becoming a failed state.
Showing vulnerability of Pakistan as a state, it has been ranked at 13th place in a recent failed state index among 178 countries. A Washington-based organisation called Fund for Peace, annually compiles a list of countries in terms of their vulnerability. Pakistan has been called a failed state numerous times and marked under the red flagged category. While in 2009 and 2010 Pakistan ranked at 10th place, in 2011 it marginally improved its rank to 12th position.
 
But will the recent call by the Pakistani PM to resolve issues with India bring any change in relations? 
 
Bahadur doesn’t think so as he believes that Indo-Pak relation has been in a state of ambiguity. “No group in Pakistan that is friendly with India is allowed to rule. In fact, there are several terrorist groups which are working against India and funded by the government of Pakistan.”      
 
Ashok K Behuria and Sushant Sareen analysts at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) also endorses Bahadur’s call on Indo-Pak relations in a new book released on July 13, 2012 – ‘India’s Neighbourhood: Challenges in the Next Two Decades’. They write, “If the current trends were to continue, Pakistan may develop into a hybrid and semi-theocratic state — partly democratic and partly under the military’s control with more emphasis on an extremely radical and less tolerant version of Islam, which is anti-West and anti-India in its orientation.”
 
The deteriorating situation in Pakistan is evident with continuous terror attacks which have caused life of several civilians and security personnel. During last two years until August 12, fatalities of more than 10,000 took place during terrorist’s violence in Pakistan. In 2011, a total of at least 6,142 persons, including of 2,797 militants, 2,580 civilians and 7,65 Security Forces (SFs) personnel reported killed. In 2012, until August 12, around 3,977 people killed which includes 1,732 civilians, 500 security force personnel and 1,745 terrorists.
Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement