Why Pakistan is not a failed state
More than 24,000 Pakistanis form the world’s largest “human national flag” in Lahore. –APP Photo
It’s been about a week since the Connecticut school massacre, and Americans are still grieving.
Yet we’re comforted by the thought that, with time, the bereaved community of Newtown will bounce back. Students will return to school, and victims’ families will somehow get on with their lives. This is because America, as politicians and the US media have intoned repeatedly in recent days, is a strong and resilient society.
For me, such words bring to mind another strong and resilient society — one that endures constant afflictions, tragedies, and privation. I can think of few nations that suffer more misery than Pakistan.
Pakistan certainly isn’t the only country where, in a span of hours, an infant can be bitten by a rat in a hospital nursery, and 16 people can die from consuming toxic cough medicine. This happened several weeks ago.
Yet, place these individual incidents alongside the unending onslaught of natural disaster, insurgency, terrorism, corruption, poverty, natural resource shortage, and disease. Now you can understand why so many Pakistanis suffer from PTSD, and are driven to desperate measures.
In 2008, in one of the most harrowing pieces of journalism I’ve ever read, Newsline’s Shimaila Matri Dawood wrote of Pakistanis murdering their children, jumping in front of trains, and setting themselves on fire — all because they couldn’t provide for their families.
Still, the aim of my final post of 2012 is not to dwell on Pakistan’s suffering. It is to showcase the remarkable strength and resiliency with which the Pakistani society responds to it.
When the 2010 floods plunged 20 per cent of the nation underwater, the government was largely missing in action. Yet doctors, housewives, students, and many others (not to mention the military) immediately deployed to the affected areas to render assistance. Of course, many Pakistanis minister to the needy every day, and not just after humanitarian catastrophes. Witness the tireless work of Pakistan’s living legend, Abdul Sattar Edhi.
Some of Pakistan’s citizen-first responders come bearing not relief or medical supplies, but inspiring words and campaigns that galvanise the nation. Malala Yousafzai certainly comes to mind — as does Sana Saleem, the free speech advocate recently named one of Foreign Policy’s top 100 global thinkers of 2012 (Malala made the list as well). Their ilk will increasingly take center stage as older generations — led by the likes of the late Ardeshir Cowasjee — retire from public life.
Then there are those Pakistanis who use their rare gifts to benefit the country. The tragically short life of Arfa Karim, the teenaged IT genius who provided computer training to the poor, is a shining example.
Also admirable are those who labor under the most difficult of conditions, yet still pull off extraordinary acts. Take journalists and doctors, many of whom are severely underpaid and overworked, and work in dangerous environments. Admittedly, some of them succumb to the stress (recall the surgeon who left operating scissors in a patient’s stomach, and the journalists who fell for the infamous Shamsul Anwar hoax). Yet many more shrug off threats to break critical stories, or save countless lives. I’ll never forget the young doctor I met last summer, who told me he constantly fears getting attacked at his hospital by livid people denied care. When I asked why he keeps going back, his answer was immediate and simple: “Pakistan needs medical care.”
And then there are the besieged religious minorities, who quietly persevere in a nation that refuses to protect them. It’s a wonder more haven’t fled.
Finally, there are the simple yet poignant acts of charity and benevolence — like the kids in Karachi who collect garbage every Sunday, or the Islamabad-based peace activists who travel to KP to speak to students about tolerance and nonviolence.
One of Pakistan’s enigmas is how it manages to “muddle along” despite its multitude of problems. The answer can be found in its people, who hold the country together. They are undoubtedly driven by patriotism, which runs deep despite the nation’s divisions. This is why I cringe whenever I hear Pakistan referred to as a “failed state.” So long as the Pakistani society remains strong, I can’t imagine how Pakistan can fail.
At least not yet.
The question, in the years ahead, is whether Pakistan’s resilient society can beat back the cresting waves of militancy and sectarianism that threaten to tear Pakistan apart and, one day, even plunge it into civil war. Balkanisation, more so than an Islamist takeover, is a very real threat to the Pakistani state.
Up to now, the Pakistani society has stepped in to provide services and fill roles where the government is absent. Yet this isn’t a sustainable strategy. To avert disaster in the decades ahead, the Pakistani state will need to step up — and provide the leadership and good judgment long exemplified by its society.
See you in 2013.
The author is the Senior Program Associate for South Asia at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC. You can reach him at michael.kugelman@wilsoncenter.org
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
Micheal you are correct. Pakistan’s population is 180 million. 15% Educated means 20 million. These are are the ones who are fighting against all odds and holding the country together. The British gave Pakistan some good infrastructure in school, colleges, hospitals etc which is producing these 15%,
15% of 180 is 27 million–
respect to the writer… thank you very much
I love this piece….. made me wanna cry….. we love u too much Pakistan….. how loud can we say this
Thank You for your Optimism. It is true that Patriotism runs deep that is why Pakistan have not disintegrated. May Allah give us more strength to bring peace to our land, Ameen.
I LOVE my Pakistan
Pakistan is like a video game where every next level gets tougher and tougher. Currently it seems like everything under the sun is being thrown at it along with the kitchen sink. It’s clearly at a make or break level. Mr. Kugelman’s hopeful and positive words are what this nation needs at the moment to carry on struggling for a better country.
I fail to understand how few % of population can take ride of fate of community as a whole ??? In every society there are hard liners but the majority moderate don’t agree with them and contained them to minimum distortion of their faith. In Pakistan extremist are in minority even though they are allowed by moderate majority to represent as a ideology of Pakistan. If you don’t contain them then don’t blame others how they look at Pakistani in general. Surely I don’t believe any state is become failed state. Every country gone through rough patches.
Thanks Michael ! Yes, we will survive !
“To avert disaster in the decades ahead, the Pakistani state will need to step up — and provide the leadership and good judgment long exemplified by its society”
essence of the whole article…
Michael,no need to cringe when you hear people saying Pakistan is a failed state. These are just jealous Indians who have never managed come to terms with the idea of Pakistan and are now revelling in seeing our current problems. These problems will pass, God willing. We know we are not failing, you’ve just happened to realised it now.
This proves that good citizens cant make a successful state. Pak is failed state with successful people.
You need to go back to nation 101, when people are successful the state can not be called failed. I am glad you agreed with the main part.
I think you’re really muddled up buddy.
really Raj? your comment also proves that haters like yourself will take up any opprtunity to kill other’s hope and enthusiasm….
Hope is fading away for this country; but I do hope this country survives, lest it becomes a bigger burden on my country – India.
No Pakistan has never been burden on any one. How can it be a burden for any country like India which is already a burden for so many ! First solve your problems Mr. Akhilesh.
your country also have many of its own problem from poverty to lawlessness, Insurgencies to religious extremism and many other .. so better to look at them first …
Pakistan paindabad ! Pak Fauj zindabad ! Pakistan forever..thanks Mr.Kugleman !
If people (escpecally the rich ) don’t pay taxes than how will the government have resources to respond to these events?
In most nations, the govts have developed systems to ensure taxes are paid. Paying tax is compulsory, not a choice.
It is not all about money that makes a state successful but it is the determination to endure and survive in spite of it.This needs a firm character and faith. .
I agree that there are individuals in Pakistan who rise above the clutter and accomplish great personal and humanitarian feats but the term “failed state” still applies to Pakistan because as a country, nation, political entity and government we have miserably failed altogether.
Very good article. I feel proud to be a Pakistani.
It is not a simply failed state,it is a miserably failed state,with only a slight chance of improving,but not unless the mind set of the theiving politicians and the Hopless uneducated Muslim clergy Unless they reallise thiis window of time frame,Pakistan IS DOOMED.-IT WILLBE LIKE IRAN
Michael appreciate your views but here I see one thing not right when you say a Islamist take over since these people are not Islamic who kill other and who destroy others home without any reason.
And Islam does not allow these thing I will say The Shariah (Islamic Law) is the best to be implemented for Pakistan i.e. according to Quran and Sunnah. But as the time passes the media has played and notorious role in letting people know that the those people killing one another are muslims. But for your kind information those people who kill (other muslim or whether its a muslim or any human being) without any reason he is a disbeliever since Islam does not teaches these things. And he is getting of the track of islamic teachings, Any how the Shariah rule is the best and with out this we can perish.. undoubtedly what is happening (unwanted killing) is all against shariah. (Else Allah is all knowing).
Good one Michael. Any country with such problems (especially since 2002) would have gotten destroyed by now. But Pakistan keeps plugging along and was even named in the next 11 economies to watch for on a global index. That being said, we need to get rid of corrupt politicians of PPP and N-league who keep looting the country every time they come in power and elect honest people like Imran Khan. Every resiliency has its limits.
Apart from Pakistani people there are also some divine powers who have protected this country in harsh times. Pakistan Zindabad.
Great Article to lift up the spirits of the Pakistani’s and find some reassurancee of the ability and strength within ! I hope we can overcome this chaos with the right attitude and under right leadership soon. We Pakistanis are blessed with a beautiful country with abundant resources and natural talent we just need to speak up against the attrocities and not be lazy anymore. Its time we prove ourselves to the world !
Saddening yet inspiring.
You apparently or conveniently forgot one MAJOR factor that faces Pakistan.It’s colossal financial debt that is due soon.I salute the people for their resilience in the face of adversirty, but who is going to save the nation from this economic crisis? I do not read the government making plans to address it.How long can the people give their support when there is no surety given by the government to tackle this impending financial “storm”.It has only some 13 billion in the kitty.
Because you say so?
No, because we the Pakistanis say so.
nice article.
u forget the pakistani workers abroad, who send the remittance worth billion USD per month.