Tahir Hussain
Hopefully this letter reaches you in good health and spirits.I want to present my point of view about the current state of Pakistan, a topic that you mentioned in your article and something that has gained much prominence and different interpretations from various analysts. Instead of the dire predictions of civil war by some analysts, my analysis indicates a different path. In spite of the apparent hopelessness, I am sure that no important changes are likely in the future of socio-political situation in the country. This is based on the understanding that Pakistan’s history and contemporary trends have been shaped by external forces.Pakistan has continued to be in the tight embrace of an establishment which enjoys US support and US monetary organizations.This partnership is not accidental, but rather planted in mutually beneficial and strategic interests.The control of this monad over Pakistan meets the interests of these organizations, which means that the country remains a significant player in the region, although significantly dependent on outside powers. In this respect, the people of Pakistan seem to be little more than parts in a bigger geopolitical machine and “battery cells” for more powerful countries. Their situation, however serious it may be, appears to be a result of this larger chess game where peripheral powers play Russia and Turkey against each other for regional and global supremacy. However, this view does not diminish my hopes. The hope that keeps the flame burning is my faith in Allah’s promise to listen to prayers from the weak.History has taught us that even the seemingly immortal regimes of terror wreaking havoc for decades eventually collapse. The 80-year hegemony in Pakistan with so many notable moments such as callous killing of Jinnah and Liaqat Ali Khan etc., including the tragic tale of Jinnah’s sister is not an exception. Even if such characters as Imran Khan, who was mentioned by the establishment as “another Jinnah” or “Manah”, suffered a similar fate, it doesn’t changes a thing. Owing due to the latest events such as charges against Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi for marrying during the period of iddat, it is clear that personal issues are now politicized so that pressure can be applied and control maintained. Such tricks represent the scale to which the establishment will go in order to sustain its dominance. Tax them till death – Thispersistence of influence can be seen in the current economic structure that is imposing high taxes on the Pakistani people and turning their hard-earned money into fuel for international hegemonies.However, the strength of human spirit and solidarity should never be belittled. Finally, although the situation in Pakistan may appear grim, underlying trends indicate continuity of the status quo rather than a radical change. This perspective, however, does not discount the possibility of change that can arise out of some unassuming place and spring up from the people’s resilience – though very unlikely no all probabilities.
