Pakistan's problems are not all that different from that of India's or Bangladesh's ;or for that matter from any other developing country. It is facing similar issues relating to development, mass poverty, lack of education and health facilities. Regionalism, political corruption and institutional failure has a similar ring throughout the Indian sub-continent. Even insurgency is a factor throughout the subcontinent . Tamil's fought a pitched war for decades in Sri Lanka. Maoist fought and won in Nepal. Afghanistan looks like a sieve and has been bleeding all over for over two decades. India had to contend with several of them. From Naga rebellion through Punjab disturbances to Kashmiri Muslim's terrorism . From ISI 's periodic blasts to Maoist armed action, she has faced them all . However at no time does it look like that the Indian state is going to fold up. Nor does it look like Nepal or Sri Lanka will ever cease to exist because of their domestic troubles. Even Bangladesh with her coups , BDR revolts and catfights between the begums feels stable.
Pakistan however is a different case altogether. Since the carving out a separate country in 1947 they have steered their nation with one hand positively on the self - destruct button. It is not a surprise that commentators and analysts have continuously tagged it a failed state for the 40 odd years. It is not because these people have any animosity with Pakistan neither is it a part of the grand design to muzzle an Islamic nation. The fact is that it is Pakistan herself that has regularly emitted these distress signals. Pakistan has been on the death bed for so long , it is a surprise to some that it exists at all. Pakistan must realize that the main cause of their instability is their confused national identity. They do not know if they are Muslims or they are Pakistani's. Believe me these are mutually exclusive things. One is personal other is cultural. You can be both but not at the same time.
They have taken most of their decisions as Muslims and that has been the cause of their troubles. From making kashmir an issue and a permanant anti- India stance to their creating Taliban for achieving strategic depth . All the 'muslim' policies have boomeranged on them. So not surprisingly they are continuously facing strategic death!
Isn't it funny that their ' theory of Pakistan ' strategists and analysts are actually pepping them up by telling Pakistani's that they are son's of Arab invaders and they should be proud of this. Wow ! in any other nation; Muslim or not, this would constitute an extreme insult to the people and result in instant lynching of the theorists. Not in Pakistan though. In their befuddled state of mind it does not register as derogatory. Try saying this kind of thing to an Iranian or a Turk or an Indonesian for that matter !! All muslim states. Indonesia has made Ram's story into a traditional opera that they love to show off. It has not made them any less muslim.
Can Lahore do it?
A Lahore Muslim can not feel proud of the fact that Lahore is named after Luv the son of Lord Rama. Pakistani citizens are not supposed to have any feelings for Katasraj because it is Pre Islamic. Guru Nanak was born in Pakistan , his teachings and wisdom finds no place in public consciousness. His birthplace is only used once a year to score browine points and flog the dead khalistani horse. How Sad but true. Just for comparison see how India proudly markets Taj Mahal as an "Indian" brand. The fact that it was built by a muslim ruler does not come into consideration.
So the question is how have they survived ? Well it is under severe pressure of Islamists but they still wear orange and fly kites on Basant, do'nt they? It is very pre - islamic and just a Pakistani tardition. Call me simplistic but as long as they continue to recognize and follow the "Pakistani" traditions they will chug along. The continuation of their nation however demands that they immediately all the Muslim causes from Palestine to Iraq and straightaway strive to find answer to one thing and one thing only - Who am I ?
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