Found an interesting video that incited me to compare Pakistan’s 75 years with that of China. China’s story is positive with a lot of growth whereas Pakistan’s story is not so happy. The factors making these opposite stories are contrasting in themselves.
The start of the journey of the two countries was apart by one year. Pakistan gained independence in 1947 and China in 1948. In particular, China’s flight of growth and development started in 1978 when it liberalized its economy and registered tens of thousands of small businesses. Conversely, Pakistan’s downward flight started in 1979, when it was presented with an opportunity of pivotal role in global geopolitics. From 1978-2018 in four decades China grew its economy 91 times and GDP 25 times. In the same period Pakistan’s economy suffered badly.
The biggest contrast in the stories of the two countries lies in the prevalence of conflict. Pakistan along its 75 years faced almost perpetual conflict. War in the first year, next in the 18th year, and still next in the 24th year. These wars were interspersed by skirmishes, uneasy peace, and minor conflicts. The war in the 24th year ie the 1971 war, dismembered the country giving mega shock of five shocks; ideological, political, territorial, military, and moral. Pakistan just had 8 years to reel out of these shocks that the USSR moved into its neighborhood in 1979. Pakistan helped the US to win the Cold War by suffering immensely. Pakistan was faced with the hard reality of settling the mess created in and around it. The finale of the Cold War in Afghanistan had sown the seeds of the next war. 13 years later, 9/11 occurred and Pakistan was presented with yet another pivotal role in global geopolitics. In the middle of these geopolitical cycles was Kargil war. These global wars brought certain pros but huge, immeasurable and the worst cons.
Conversely, China fought only war with India in 1962.
China had a conducive environment for growth and development whereas Pakistan had an antithetical environment for growth and development. China chose a political system and stuck to it, Pakistan continued with experiments. China had a continuation of policies (14 Presidents) and Pakistan had fast-changing and mercurial policies (37 rulers). China’s leadership comes from the grassroots level, and Pakistan has dynastical parachuted leadership. Chinese leadership has been visionary while that of Pakistan has been self-serving. China had no colonial legacy whereas Pakistan suffered from it. China improved its relations with 14 neighbors. Pakistan has estranged realtionship with neighborhood.
A question may arise, how did India progress with a similar conflictual environment? India had a better foundation of institutions, leadership and resources. India remained non-aligned in tussle of superpowers. India had continuation of policies. Being a larger country India could better withstand losses due to conflicts. India has a superior geography due to its box-seat position in the Indina Ocean.
Now let’s see how prolonged conflict has impacted Pakistan. Alignment with the West and pivotal role in global geopolitics brought in easy money. Initially, it was a blessing to counter larger enemy but later it became a curse as body politic of Pakistan got used to it. Easy money depleted the motivation to work hard.
Ibne Khaldun had given a 7-stage cycle for the evolution of civil society from medieval to a prosperous society. External or internal interjections in the form of conflict reverse, retard or slow this process. Afghanistan has been impacted more severely and Pakistan too has been impacted badly. Conflict coupled with easy money has produced a breed of sycophants, parvenu, opportunists, and greedy people. They see talent as threat to them. Thus no merit, no justice, no fair play.
Besides material losses, these prolonged conflicts have torn our social fabric and destroyed our national character. Basic positive attributes of a society have eroded. Materialism has crept in so much that money matters more than anything else. The institutions which were already not well founded got further eroded.
Given its sufferings of the past, Pakistan should mitigate conflict in and around it. What it cannot do itself, should do with support or friends. Pakistan should not become part of other’s conflicts and it should shun the lust for easy money. Pakistan should improve relations with neighbors even at the cost of compromises. Pakistan can benefit a lot by aligning with China and following its model of growth and development
Sammilogger 