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April 13, 2003
REVIEWS: Challenged since the start
The period between 1997 and 2003 has seen the publication of numerous volumes that seek to provide a comprehensive picture of Pakistan, during a period when the country completed half a century of its existence, and the world entered a new century and millennium. International interest in the country has grown over these years following the crucial role it has played in the last proxy conflict of the cold war, in Afghanistan, and its accession to the status of an overt nuclear power.
Confrontation and instability have emerged in West and South Asia owing to the failure of the global community to address the political and economic consequences of the war in Afghanistan, on the one hand and the festering dispute over Kashmir, on the other. With economic discontents and a nuclear standoff making the region “the most dangerous place in the world” in President Clinton’s words, the global academic community has developed an interest in understanding the regional dynamics and challenges.
Last but not least, the epicentre of the terrorist outrage of 9/11 was also traced to the region where Pakistan is located, and the war against terror saw the country resume its status as a frontline state.
The thirteen articles by scholars and researchers from Pakistan and the US were presented at a Conference at the Wake Forest University in the US in 1997. Though the articles were updated in 2000, before going to press, the world has not stood still, and Pakistan has been thrust again to the centre-stage following the 9/11 events. The brief introduction by Charles H. Kennedy seeks to analyze Pakistan’s approach to its new role. He has ably summarized the challenges faced by General Pervez Musharraf, who had to legitimize the military take-over in October 1999, restructure the government and tackle the many economic and security tasks inherited from the civilian administration, with greater competence.
The local government plan of May 2000 represented perhaps the most ambitious plan to reform the administration since independence. The plan has been implemented from August 2001. However, the events of September 11, 2001 not only put Pakistan in the mainstream of the international fight against religious extremism, but also led India to use the war against terrorism to pressurize Pakistan. The introduction identifies the challenges but leaves Pakistan facing “an uncertain and difficult future”.
The original thirteen articles constitute a mosaic, each of them covering different aspects of life, ranging from the fine arts, to foreign policy, nation building and nuclear policy. Though the coverage of painting, music, folk and sonic arts on the one hand, and of the women’s movement, Islamic cross-currents, and ethnic nationalism on the other goes beyond the typical edited collection of political analysis, there are large gaps in areas covered, with little coverage of the country’s economic performance and challenges. As such, the volume would not meet the expectations of those seeking a comprehensive picture of the country at the start of the millennium.
A few articles stand out for their treatment of themes relevant to Pakistan’s internal dynamics and external posture. Professor Rasul Bakhsh Rais has sought to explain the reasons for which Pakistan has not succeeded fully in integrating its diverse “nations” owing to excessive reliance on “state-building”. Islam alone is not adequate to promote political cohesion. The suppression of regional discontents to promote political unity has not led to sound governance.
Ethnic elites and nationalities have to be engaged in the task of nation building, and the fruits of economic development shared equitably. The problems of the Pakistani state can be best resolved through greater cooperation among all the political forces and institutions of state.
Rodney Jones, well-known US expert on Pakistan’s nuclear programme, has provided a comprehensive study of the challenges Pakistan faces in nuclear deterrence, notably in view of the resource asymmetries between India and Pakistan. He makes a detailed analysis of the developments after the nuclear tests of May 1998, specially the Kargil conflict in the summer of 1999. There is a detailed survey of the nuclear and missile assets of the two countries. Given the disparities in size and resources, Pakistan’s problems in maintaining deterrence, in command and control and in responding to arms control measures are analyzed skillfully. Dr Jones stresses the need to maintain the tempo of economic development, since “without economic health, nuclear security may be unsustainable over the long term”.
Other significant contents include Dr Hasan-Askari Rizvi’s essay on “The Pakistan Military”, and Ian Talbott’s essay, “Back to the Future”, that trace Pakistan’s nation building efforts to the colonial period. The special feature of the volume is that it contains a study by academic experts of many facets and factors that make up Pakistan both as a state and society.
Pakistan’s evolution and challenges had been a somewhat neglected topic, till it went nuclear in 1998, and its international role has become even more crucial since the coalition against terrorism was formed in 2001. Given its geopolitical situation, the country’s fortunes are now linked to global issues. This book would be a useful addition to the libraries of persons and institutions for providing authentic material on its culture, and challenges.
Pakistan at the Millennium
Edited by Charles H. Kennedy, Kathleen McNeil, Carl Ernst, and David Gilmartin
Oxford University Press, Plot # 38, Sector 15, Korangi Industrial Area, Karachi. Tel: 111-693-673
Email:
ouppak@theoffice.net
Website:
www.oup.com.pk
ISBN 0-19-579776-0
390pp. Rs550
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