But while Pakistani civil society debates what’s next, it may be derailed by the American Tourette Syndrome. The enduring ‘failed state’ narrative, deployed by Washington, repeated and popularized by the mainstream American press, has worked in narrowing the debate on Pakistan to security-talk. Paradoxically, the U.S. may be exacerbating problems by acting on the ‘failed state’ story it endlessly repeats to itself.
The American military has been recklessly bombing FATA. Recent figures by Pakistani authorities said that of the sixty U.S. drone attacks between January 2006 and April 2009, only ten hit their targets. In all, the strikes have killed fourteen Al Qaeda leaders and 687 innocent Pakistanis, making the success rate of the attacks not more than 2 percent.
This belligerent policy appears incapable of delivering anything but insults to the very region from which General Petraeus has said that the next 9/11 is likely to come. But, the American press, rather than opening a sphere of discussion has been—intentionally or unintentionally—building consent for questionable government policies that are now expanding the theatre of war into Pakistan.
“If we can just get three or four elections strung together with full terms, I can guarantee good things will be happening,” Ahmed argues. That has not happened because the stakeholders always need something to happen in Pakistan right away. “Combat communism now. Expel Russia from Afghanistan now. Find Osama Bin Laden now. Don’t worry about this democratic thing.”
But Pakistanis, who have been the main victims of terrorism with over a thousand deaths last year alone, have clearly shown that they do worry about that “democratic thing.” Instead of peddling Washington’s chaos theories, the press should take care to listen.
Very interesting. I forget the name of the Russian prognosticator who confidently predicted the collapse of America within the next few years. I remember all too well the names of those who assured us that civil society would shoot up in Iraq like forsythia in the spring. We should all probably remind ourselves that despite the existence of instant global communication, foreignness still exists; there's a lot we don't understand about other countries.
But there's one thing you have not acknowledged: even as Pakistan experiences growth in democracy, its government continues to lose territory. The concerns that foreign nations have with Pakistan stem largely from those regions that are only nominally part of it, which now include not only the FATA but the Swat valley as well.
Pakistan is coming to resemble Israel. Israel has a strong civil society as well, but can you really blame those of us who don't live in Tel Aviv for being a little nervous about what goes on in the West Bank?
Posted by D. B. on Fri 24 Apr 2009 at 11:39 AM
A beautiful breath of fresh air! Thank you, Mr. Tahir!
Posted by Chris Bouier on Fri 24 Apr 2009 at 01:25 PM
Great work Madiha. It is time the American press and people wake up to their own follies. Pakistan is NOT a failed state, and a perusal of something as basic as Wikipedia can confirm that. It is a crisis state I agree, but so long as Pakistanis like myself who are the future of this country and will stand by it come what may are here, Pakistan is going to be on the map as an example of a peoples resilience.
Posted by Zainab Imam on Fri 24 Apr 2009 at 06:18 PM
Difficult to understand the criticisms here when it is clear that Zardari-Gilani and Sharif are the dominant players in Pakistan's politics and the agreement they had offered the country the prospect of some stability and the avoidance of military rule again. Seems no-one can offer thoughts and criticisms without people inside Pakistan crying "conspiracy". I wonder if this is why Pakistan is falling apart?
Posted by John Pickering on Sat 25 Apr 2009 at 04:19 PM
While it might be true that the American press hasn't done enough to provide an entirely balanced view of the situation in Pakistan, must we as Pakistanis also ignore the disturbing realities on ground. The government has recently submitted its territory to non-state actors; allowed the implementation of Sharia law; Taliban elements have infiltrated the major cities of Lahore and Pakistan; truly disturbing realities indeed. And it is not just the American newspapers that are crying hoarse over the government's lack of ideas and vision in this situation; you just need to look at the editorial pages of major dailies like Dawn to read roughly similar stories. The country is truly in the state of chaos, which gets worse every day. There is no point denying that reality.
Posted by H.R. on Sun 26 Apr 2009 at 08:55 AM
The sacking of a judge resulted in a tide-turning long march, which was very encouraging.
But where are the participants in the long march as the country loses territory, militants - who have sworn a jihad against democracy - close in on Islamabad and infiltrate Punjab and Karachi, and as videos of public floggings and beheadings surface?
Forget US interests - is this not a threat to Pakistanis as urgent (or more) than the sacking of Chaudhary?
You are right in many ways in this great article, but it doesn't automatically mean that the others are wrong.
Posted by Ali A. Rizvi on Sun 26 Apr 2009 at 05:31 PM
What a crap! There was nothing new in this "article". Unfortunately, i think, you too fall into the category of people - who think they are experts on Pakistan. Guess you going to give lectures to US experts too, eh?
Posted by Shahoo on Sun 26 Apr 2009 at 09:10 PM
This article should be labeled "Exhibit A" of why Pakistan is going to hell in a handbasket. Not once in the piece does the writer address the realities of problems on the ground. While the lawyer's movement was a stirring, emotional sight, why have these brave souls not channeled their influence and anger towards broad justice, including universal education, rather than narrowly focusing on the re-establishment of fired judges to the bench? The arguments presented are typical of a middle- to upper-middle class writer completely removed from "realities on the ground", which the author neglects to detail. I must also include that blaming the US for each and every ill Pakistan suffers from is an irresponsible and careless form of misplaced patriotism. The author correctly points out that Pakistan has been victimized by terror. This fact is heartbreaking. So why then does she in the same piece marginalize the threat that the insurgency poses? Why does she not write more critically about Asif Ali Zardari, who when questoned about his government's coddling of the Taliban falls back on the response that "these people were responsible for the death of my wife"? Enough. This is not the reaction of a statesman. Perhaps it's time for the Sharifs and the Bhutto/Zardari clans to set aside their bitterness, which goes back to the time of ZA Bhutto, and think of the people for a change. Remember them? Whatever happened to representing those to whom the country gives nothing? Finally, if the author is going to quote articles in the American press perhaps she shouldn't link to them...the reader then realizes that she has grossly misrepresented what the NYT or (fill in the blank) has actually published. I would also be interested to read what the author's views are on the Urdu media and whether the people of Pakistan are well-served by their Fourth Estate.
Posted by Stop this Drivel on Sun 26 Apr 2009 at 09:40 PM
Great article. Thank you for countering the hackneyed narrative.
Pakistan's a country of 160 million. It's far more complex than what a Nicholas Schmidle or other tourist journalists think.
Posted by Aurangzeb Chisti on Mon 27 Apr 2009 at 01:45 AM
Are they dancing in Swat Valley? In the Buner district?
Both conspicuously absent from your piece.
Is that not part of the Pakistani reality?
Conspicuously absent. A shame, really.
Posted by Jason Arkin on Mon 27 Apr 2009 at 10:31 AM
I disagree with you when you say Pakistanis do not realise the threat. A certain class does. Others do too in the sense that there is a new watchfulness amongst ordinary people.
You make a very good point in your article in terms of how Pakistan has been portrayed. You wax lyrical about the lawyer's movement and the participation in it of the civil society. But your argument is undermined by a very simply quesiton asked in an earlier comment - why did these people not fight for something greater?
Also, one can not forget that this huge triumph of democracy came about because the PML-N's people came out on the streets. Where their loyalties really lay - with their leader or with the concept of justice - is debatable.
Posted by Sam on Mon 27 Apr 2009 at 10:41 AM
I guess what Syed Jamaluddin had proposed in his book "DIVIDE PAKISTAN TO ELIMINATE TERRORISM" was 100% correct. Syed Jamaluddin had predicted that Pakistan should be disintegrated in order to crush the terrorist network being nourished by Pakistan´s secret agencies which were previously involved in the making of Taliban and other similar terrorist outfits. In my opinion, Syed Jamaluddin´s book "DIVIDE PAKISTAN TO ELIMINATE TERRORISM" should be taken very seriously by American media in determining the urgent need to resolve the issues concerned with elimination of terrorism in South Asia at present times.
Posted by Robert Vekich on Mon 27 Apr 2009 at 02:23 PM
Quite an informative essay indeed, Thanks. it is easy to lets ones mind slip and not pay attention to the filth of the US mainstream media about any corner of the world. For them any country becomes out of control the more people take the initiative and fight for their rights. They have been a tool for despotism all over the world, unless "democratic" change is pulling in the direction of the US hegemonic interests. A known story so far. Ms. Madiha's essay is more than an eye opener, full with lively interviews and from people and activists on the ground in Pakistan. It convey the real care and respect ones, at least, has to have when dealing with a political situation for a country of some 175 million population, and be able to appreciate its complexity.
Posted by Degole Adely on Mon 27 Apr 2009 at 02:27 PM
a refreshing approach to challange the standard journalistic bias particularly in the western media. well done Madiha Tahir.
can i also add what the menace of mullaism means for pakistan; partly politically motivated arrogant self induced distortion of the religious teachings aimed to exploit the mostly uneducated masses and partly the misled innocent and grieved people, combine together to lead to violent attitudes and injustice, thus doing opposite to what the fundamental teachings of islam actually are ie peace and justice!
Posted by shakeel ahmad on Mon 27 Apr 2009 at 04:48 PM
Thank you, MS. Tahir.
Posted by mariam durrani on Mon 27 Apr 2009 at 07:42 PM
A good read. Refreshing to actually get a glimpse into the other facets of Pakistan beyond the doom and gloom headlines. A good attempt at highlighting the achievements of civil society in Pakistan.
I haven't read Syed Jamaluddin's book (mentioned in an earlier comment by Mr Vekich), but I think it's quite simple to eliminate terror....and it has nothing to do with the disintegration of Pakistan. On the contrary, the conditions that cause desperation and a lack of justice and opportunities should be eliminated. Then there will be no attraction for people to join in militancy (like the Taliban, for e.g.). The Pakistani state needs to attend to those needs. Very recently the politicians have bowed to public pressure, hopefully they will realize that it is in their interest to deliver on other needs (education, healthcare, etc.) as well.
The US should also advise and ensure that the billions of dollars of aid it gives Pakistan should not be military aid, but rather development aid.
Posted by Sana Shafqat on Tue 28 Apr 2009 at 06:39 PM
I think this article is very insightful. I completely agree that US media and think-tank portrayals of Pakistan are filtered through the lens of "US foreign policy interests in South Asia." This leads them to focus on nuclear weapons and militancy while completely ignoring domestic struggles for democracy and the rule of law.
I disagree with previous comments that criticize the lawyers movement for not fighting for anything "greater" like universal education or fighting the militancy. It was a movement united behind a specific goal and it achieved this goal. We cannot expect one movement to cure all the ills of Pakistan in one fell swoop. Madiha is correct to point out that this movement attracted broad-based participation and created citizen groups and networks that will continue to work together for other goals. Achieving broader social justice is a long-term process, and this movement should be viewed as one small step in the right direction.
The movement probably would not have succeeded had Nawaz Sharif's self-interest coincided perfectly with the lawyers' goals, but this attests to the importance of vibrant political parties, in addition to citizen movements and a free media. The lawyers movement was a crucial turning point in the relations between the Pakistani state and its citizens, and not just a footnote in the narrative of the "failed" Pakistani state.
Madiha is correct to point out that the US media and think-tanks fixate on issues of concern to US strategic interests, and downplay issues that are of central concern to Pakistani citizens (in addition to the militancy).
Posted by tabinda on Tue 28 Apr 2009 at 08:15 PM
well "Pakistan-a failed state" is a very wrong int'l media promotion.
instead of just blindly believing your newspaper and tv, if you turn out for the ground realities, you'd see that pakistan's militia problem is very much under control now, terrorists (baitullah mehsud, molana fazllulah etc) are cornenred and they are vowing to not attack pakistan anymore.
Areas where TTP was soreading havoc are under army control now, plus signing peace deal was a very significant move, and nothing has been given under non-state actors, judges will be appointed by government itself, and its all within Pakistan constitution, it allows sharia courts!
Posted by Ali Raza on Fri 1 May 2009 at 01:46 PM
Nicely argued but some of the points are debatable.
Posted by Luv on Sat 2 May 2009 at 12:29 AM
"why have these brave souls not channeled their influence and anger towards broad justice, including universal education, rather than narrowly focusing on the re-establishment of fired judges to the bench?"- The author of this comment fails to recognize that the people of Pakistan can't have universal and useful education without democracy; and that they can't have democracy without fighting for its judicial conditions of possibility. As for Pakistan's loss of territories in FATA and Swat, such losses will only continue so long as military dictators continue to do America's bidding.
Nothing short of laws and a state apparatus determined by the people of Pakistan (and not by the U.S or its finger puppet Pakistani generals) will ensure territorial sovereignty and welfare for the thus-far disenfranchised masses of Pakistan. Indeed, the day may come when popular Pakistani sovereignty may reverse the effects of the shameful founding vision of that state; a vision of a state that- like Israel- was intended as a fortress to protect and exclusively further the interests of one religious minority.
Posted by Prashant on Tue 28 Jul 2009 at 03:14 AM
One thing most of us Pakistanis are not stressing enough is the really conservative and intolerant thinking that's creeping in our young generation. There are just too many young people thinking practically everything "in the light of" what Islam says or doesn't say. It's a very dangerous art of using Islamic statements as political tool to silence others that we need to address among the youth. Challenge one and you find yourself in hot water, simply anything that has been judged "according to Islam". An inceased use of the scarf brings with it a different mindset. Children are losing their sense of humour and one really needs to be careful of what you talk about, the slightest hint of something can be turned into blasphemy. The youth need to be pulled out of this "Islam this, Islam that" if we are to see anyfuture of Pakistan. The constant victimisation of Islam being fed to the young minds by the mullahs and blaming West for virtually everything is now the opinion of almost 9 out of 10 people.
Posted by Pakistani on Wed 18 Nov 2009 at 04:59 PM