Strategic Analysis | 2019
Reimagining Pakistan: Transforming a Dysfunctional Nuclear State
Abstract
Pakistan as a state has been in constant turmoil since its creation in 1947. Institutions of a modern, functional state could never take root in the country. Consequently, it has been the military that has dominated the politics undermining the space available for democracy and democratic institutions. The politics in Pakistan and the interesting trajectory it has taken since its inception has drawn the attention of many scholars who have analysed various aspects of Pakistan polity, its security dilemmas and its fractious relationship with its neighbours. Reimagining Pakistan by Hussain Haqqani is a significant addition to the debate. It is all the more important as it provides the perspective of a former state functionary. Haqqani has served as advisor to four prime ministers of Pakistan—Yusuf Raza Gilani, Benazir Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif and Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi and retired as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States in 2011. Haqqani highlights Pakistan’s historical trajectory, and suggests how to make amends to arrest its slide into a failed state Reimagining Pakistan looks into the very foundation of Pakistan with a critical eye. It paints a picture of Pakistan according to which, it is imperative for it to change the narrative of its history and national identity. While being envisaged as a secular state with modern civil laws however, in its quest for an Islamic identity, Pakistan got disconnected with the principles of secularism as envisaged by Mohammad Ali Jinnah, and instead ventured on the path of becoming a SunniMuslim country. According to Haqqani, the vehement effort at Islamising an already Muslim majority country, along with the narrative that all its neighbouring countries are ‘out to get them’, especially because they don’t belong to the same religion, is the crux of many of Pakistan’s problems (p. 135) The official narrative of Pakistan’s creation creates a sense of fear in the citizens, and according to Haqqani, promotes a tendency of self-victimisation. He further elucidates that, in general, this has led to extreme aversion to any criticism directed at the state, both domestically and internationally. He claims that Pakistan turns opaque to any debacle such as the loss of East Pakistan, or the assassination of Liaquat Ali Khan, or operation Neptune Spear (killing of Bin-Laden). This, in turn, gives rise to, and promotes, conspiracy theories, especially in the absence of reports from the publicly announced inquiry commissions. Here, Haqqani has tried to highlight Pakistan’s ability to disengage with facts and paint a narrative that promulgates propaganda. Strategic Analysis, 2019 Vol. 43, No. 1, 81–83, https://doi.org/10.1080/09700161.2019.1565191