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| India-Pakistan |
| Saving Pakistan from itself |
| 2009-03-11 |
| K. SHANKAR BAJPAI Alarming as Pakistan's spreading Talibanisation is, it is even more difficult to discern encouraging ways to counter it. Pakistanis, who ultimately must develop these, and the one outsider capable of influencing affairs evidently consider a civilian-faced army regime their best (looking) bet. Undeniable, but the army is also the cause of Pakistan's problems. No recrimination intended: the army has some of the ablest and balanced men in Pakistan, but formed in an atmosphere of implacable antagonism to India and contempt for civilian rule. One army element, at least, has developed religious extremists as its most effective instrument against both domestic politicians and India. It is a Wild West custom for the sheriff to co-opt the gunslinger to catch outlaws -- and "Af-Pak" is the Wild West writ large. But the gunslinger must become wholly law-abiding -- not try getting away, as he has since 9/11, with helping against some outlaws while collaborating with others. It is simply not possible, in any foreseeable future, for a civilian Government to control Pakistan. Brave individuals -- and newspapers -- urging civil society and the rule of law cannot constitute a credible popular movement for democracy. While failing to establish a form of government, Pakistan has been managed by a governing class, controlling both civilian and military forces, using fundamentalists in their internal power struggles. Has the ruling class realised that its erstwhile creatures are about to devour it? And can the army change its thinking? Given the consequences for us, even the most unlikely possibility needs consideration. |
| Posted by:Fred |