Javaid Zeerak May 7, 2006

Tags: Pakistan failed state

Pakistan’s Ranking in in the Failed States Index a National Reality Check Moment

rel="tag" href="/tag/economy">economy has done better under the current government than before, and the country still has a well-educated (although underpaid and corrupt) civil service.

All things considered, the state of the Pakistani federation does not look good in 2006. In fact, it may be experiencing one of the bleakest periods in its short history, and the months and years ahead hold much in store for its power holders and people. Such moments of realization and crisis may represent the punctuated equilibrium that is a normal part of the socio-political evolution of any emerging nation, and Pakistan is a nation where many members of the generation that saw its creation are still living. The residual euphoria of that glory-filled episode which sustained Pakistan for the first few decades of its history -albeit feebly- may be bottoming out, and we are seeing the results. This may explain why so many Pakistanis are in shock and denial about their young nation’s ranking among the world’s most unstable, unviable, and risk-prone states.

There is reason to take heart, however. The Daily Times offers important advise in internalizing the disappointing showing of Pakistan in the Failed States Index:

"The ’failed state’ list should not become an additional factor in our general mood of pessimism, nor should we go into our familiar mode of denial linking the list to a Jewish conspiracy and accusing America of actually wishing the Muslims dead."

Good, as long as we are clear on that.