This refers to the article, “Ally only in name, and trusted no longer” (December 8) by Balbir Punj. As correctly pointed out by the writer, Pakistan was propped up by the West, especially by the US, to counter Russia in the Indian sub-continent. But Pakistan is a totally failed state because it has had no concrete appeal to the masses. Religion or language alone cannot unite people. Moreover, no Muslim country anywhere in the world has real democracy, although some have elected representatives. It's either kings ormullahs who govern.
Unless the people elect their own representatives to rule them and those representatives then govern according to the people's mandate and not be subordinated by agencies such as the Army, real freedom will be elusive. Pakistanis have to emphatically reject military intervention in democratic rule. If they can do that, they will have gained a second freedom. They can then enjoy the fruits of democracy.