Dr. Umar Khan
Dr. Khan belongs to a Lahore based Think Tank.
23-2-25
Why Pakistan always sells so cheap
The cold war that started after the Second World War was an
opportunity for many backward and poor countries of Asia who took advantage of
it and developed. Japan after the devastation of the war became an economic
beneficiary of the Korean War and started developing economically. It was followed
by South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and many other Asian countries that were known
as tiger cubs and many of them are now included among the fully developed
nations. Now a new crop of tiger cub nations has arisen showing a lot of
promise and reasons for optimism to the extent that South East Asia as a region
has overtaken Europe in economy and development.
During this turbulent period the newly created nation of
Pakistan also took sides in the cold war and fought many wars, both cold and
some not so cold. Pakistan enjoyed economic and other benefits for the services
it rendered to the world powers and initially showed some promising signs but failed
miserably in developing the nation and improving the lot and outlook of its 250
million people. The benefits were temporary while the negative effects of
taking sides appear to be everlasting, until now. What a tragedy?
Price in the practical world is determined by demand and
supply, the more a thing is sought, the higher the price it fetches. Number of
buyers and the intensity of the need against the bargaining power of the seller
finally determines the price. In this world you don’t get what you deserve, but
what you bargain is what determines the value of goods and services, weather of
an individual or a nation.
While negotiating or bargaining with world powers playing
power games, if a group arises from within the nation trying to undercut the
price by bidding lower, the results can be devastating for the poor third world
country. With a single buyer the price is different but upon the entrance of
the second bidder the price nosedives.
This tragedy happened in the poor and hapless Pakistan where
a group of military generals started bidding for the services it could offer to
the world powers and the price plummeted. Despite fighting numerous wars for
others since its creation Pakistan is still a very backward and poor country
with severe cracks in the society caused by these unnecessary conflicts it got
into.
General Ayub Khan was the first one to start clandestinely
outbidding the government of Pakistan. His letters offering his services for the
Americans at a lower price have been made public according to the right of
information. This trend of Pakistani generals resulted in their being in power
whenever the Americans needed Pakistani help and they sold Pakistan cheap, very
cheap as the biggest price they get out of these dubious deals was legitimacy for
their illegal governments at the cost of their nation. Military generals
longing and readiness to lower price of Pakistan’s cooperation in other’s wars totally
oblivious to the long term harmful effects hurt the interests of country very
badly.
Ayub got us into active cold war and gave air bases to
Americans attracting wrath of the Soviets resulting in dire consequences later.
He did get a few goodies and toys for this that didn’t last but the damage to
the state and society still lingers.
Then Mohammad Shah Rangeela reincarnated Yahya Khan was even
more generous with national coffers while he helped the Americans engulf their
rivals by befriending Chinese. He didn’t demand any economic help although the
Americans were ready to give a substantial package but all Yahya wanted was
legitimacy and opportunity to rule over the devastated millions.
Same story with Zia who fought and won the cold war for
Americans for a pittance. The amount the US spent in Afghan war that Pakistan
fought and caused the demise of the USSR was ridiculously low, a small fraction
of what was spent on the next Afghan or Ukraine war. The main price was paid by
Pakistan resulting in destruction of its economy, stability and society, detrimental
effects still lingering. Zia did get his legitimacy though and ruled for eleven
long, very long years shredding the basic fabric of the Pakistani society.
Then came Musharraf and another Afghan war that brought
another small and temporary phase of prosperity for a few. Lots of property was
bought with this money abroad by the corrupt and privileged Pakistanis. The
plight of ordinary Pakistanis stayed the same.
We are again at the same impasse after 78 years, the
military generals are vying for US help in their unending quest for political
power and they are ready to offer anything for ruling their broke country. This
time the gloves are off as are the scruples and the façade of democracy. Political
power to the voters has been practically declared unacceptable by the generals
and impunity sought.
Pakistan was richer and more developed than most of Asia at
the time of independence but this brutal competition between the generals and
the common man has resulted in absolute catastrophe for the country. It has
gotten so bad that the new generation ha lost hope and the only option many of
the young have is of migrating out of it. The world has gotten used to only bad
news coming out of Pakistan making its passports one of the least desirable.
The depression has turned into apathy and the Pakistanis have started
questioning even its creation.
No matter how bad the situation it can be made worse and
that appears to be the fate of Pakistan when we see Pakistan attacking neighborly
countries. The only skill the generals claim is fighting and only wars can
bring them prominence and importance. Now after controlling the national
foreign policy and having bad relations with all neighboring countries starting
another war appears to be their only option they seem to be pursuing. If
Pakistan is forced into another shattering misadventure of starting a war with Afghanistan,
it would have consequences too scary even to think of.
This detrimental competition for power between the people
and its military generals must end if Pakistan has to survive as a respectable
nation. The illegal ambitions of Pakistani generals have had catastrophic
effects on the lives of 250 million and must be reined in and checked. It’s
important to know what to do in life, but it’s more important to know what not
to do in life and the Generals must stop humbling the constitution and their
oath of not interfering in politics. They are employed to protect Pakistan and
not to conquer their own country or others even if they have nukes. As a poets
aptly said,
Kaise bazar ka dastoor tumhe
samjhauu
bik gya jo wo kharidar nhi ho sakta
Some powers might get some short term advantage out of using
Pakistan ruthlessly but the long term ruinous effects it might cause by
destabilizing the sixth largest nation of 250 million talented Pakistanis would
be unaffordable for the rest of the world too. Just like when Bhutto predicted
in his book, “If I am assassinated Himalayas would weep on my murder” even he
couldn’t see 9/11 coming and the whole world weeping a few years later
happening due to the chain of events his murder started.
It’s time the whole world realizes the gravity of the
situation and restrain the uncontrolled, illegal and dangerous political
ambitions of the unscrupulous Pakistani Generals.
Yeh woh badqismat maa hai jo beton
ki sej pe leti hai.
