Muslim Leaders who vehemently argued for the partition of India, to create a new nation called Pakistan may never imagined that their country will plunge to such a calamity. It took more than six decades, even to see a democratically elected government finishing its full term (if and only if the current government survive till next election).
Prospects are dim. Wherever you turn, circumstances are taking a sharp turn from bad to worse.
Economy desperately required IMF packages. Power sector required a major overhaul. Infrastructure is in desperate need of mammoth investments.
Politics, Religion and Security
In political front, new leaders are suddenly appearing and command popularity with more rigid views. Supreme Court is asking prime minister to write a letter to Swiss bank about the assets of President. Premier refuses to right the letter, had to resign. Another one coming in to office; court issuing arrest warrant against serving Premier; official refuses to obey the order, citing lack of evidence. No one clearly knows, whether army will once again wear the uniform of rulers - speculations and conspiracy theories are running high.
On security front, people are getting killed in every other day. Bomb blasts became a normal phenomenon. There is no guarantee about the life of people.
It’s better to say nothing about religious conflict. A country formed in the name of saving Muslims from Hindu dominance, is helpless in saving its own citizens. Shias are routinely massacred in the streets. On this January 10, Quetta bomb explosions killed 93 people and injured another 150. Relatives got the dead body of their beloved ones, cut in to pieces by the blasts, which they refused to bury without getting assurances from federal government.
In the end federal government forced to dismiss, their own provincial government and declared governor’s rule. Army and Frontier Corps called in. Will this stop the dance of death in the streets? Answer will create globe of fear in normal people's mind.
Casualities
According to data collected by South Asia Terrorism Portal, in 2012, Pakistan witnessed 6211 causalities. Around half of them are civilians - 3007. 2472 terrorists and 732 security forces were also killed.
FATA - Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (where Federal government's writ seldom runs) - witnessed the highest causalities in 2012 - 2901 dead (2046 terrorists, 549 civilians and 309 security personals). Next in line is Sindh - 1553 dead (117 terrorists, 1318 civilians and 118 security personals), a lot of blood flowed in the soils of Baluchistan as well - 954 dead (86 terrorists, 690 civilians and 178 security personals). Blasts in January indicate that, numbers may further increase in this year.
In the middle of all this, Pakistan is going for elections. There is chance that, first time in Pakistan's history a civilian government 'may' finish its full term.
Afghanistan Border
Pakistan's neighbour - Afghanistan - is about to face a tryst with destiny. Coalition forces, led by Americans, are winding down their ground operations and probably pull out completely in 2014. Afghan’s current system may not collapse immediately, but power is a beautiful girl which everyone wants to marry. Further escalations of tensions in Af-Pak border will increase the cycle of violence in border regions.
Conclusion
Will these groups realise the futility of killing each other? I don’t know. Is there is a chance for Pakistan to survive? I am optimistic, but light is yet to come from any direction. Pakistani state is certainly more powerful than all the terrorist groups put together; but, will the military and civilian establishments decisively act to stop the violence? Pakistan's future lies in the answer to this question.
May be the height of violence, will force them to go back to the drawing board and engage in nation building or ... I sincerely wish they will choose the first part - nation building.
Sajeev
Prospects are dim. Wherever you turn, circumstances are taking a sharp turn from bad to worse.
Economy desperately required IMF packages. Power sector required a major overhaul. Infrastructure is in desperate need of mammoth investments.
Politics, Religion and Security
In political front, new leaders are suddenly appearing and command popularity with more rigid views. Supreme Court is asking prime minister to write a letter to Swiss bank about the assets of President. Premier refuses to right the letter, had to resign. Another one coming in to office; court issuing arrest warrant against serving Premier; official refuses to obey the order, citing lack of evidence. No one clearly knows, whether army will once again wear the uniform of rulers - speculations and conspiracy theories are running high.
On security front, people are getting killed in every other day. Bomb blasts became a normal phenomenon. There is no guarantee about the life of people.
It’s better to say nothing about religious conflict. A country formed in the name of saving Muslims from Hindu dominance, is helpless in saving its own citizens. Shias are routinely massacred in the streets. On this January 10, Quetta bomb explosions killed 93 people and injured another 150. Relatives got the dead body of their beloved ones, cut in to pieces by the blasts, which they refused to bury without getting assurances from federal government.
In the end federal government forced to dismiss, their own provincial government and declared governor’s rule. Army and Frontier Corps called in. Will this stop the dance of death in the streets? Answer will create globe of fear in normal people's mind.
Casualities
According to data collected by South Asia Terrorism Portal, in 2012, Pakistan witnessed 6211 causalities. Around half of them are civilians - 3007. 2472 terrorists and 732 security forces were also killed.
FATA - Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (where Federal government's writ seldom runs) - witnessed the highest causalities in 2012 - 2901 dead (2046 terrorists, 549 civilians and 309 security personals). Next in line is Sindh - 1553 dead (117 terrorists, 1318 civilians and 118 security personals), a lot of blood flowed in the soils of Baluchistan as well - 954 dead (86 terrorists, 690 civilians and 178 security personals). Blasts in January indicate that, numbers may further increase in this year.
In the middle of all this, Pakistan is going for elections. There is chance that, first time in Pakistan's history a civilian government 'may' finish its full term.
Afghanistan Border
Pakistan's neighbour - Afghanistan - is about to face a tryst with destiny. Coalition forces, led by Americans, are winding down their ground operations and probably pull out completely in 2014. Afghan’s current system may not collapse immediately, but power is a beautiful girl which everyone wants to marry. Further escalations of tensions in Af-Pak border will increase the cycle of violence in border regions.
Conclusion
Will these groups realise the futility of killing each other? I don’t know. Is there is a chance for Pakistan to survive? I am optimistic, but light is yet to come from any direction. Pakistani state is certainly more powerful than all the terrorist groups put together; but, will the military and civilian establishments decisively act to stop the violence? Pakistan's future lies in the answer to this question.
May be the height of violence, will force them to go back to the drawing board and engage in nation building or ... I sincerely wish they will choose the first part - nation building.
Sajeev
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