The social media platforms in India are agog with the stories of the miserable condition of Pakistani economy and the subsequent state of polity over there. It is true that Pakistan is caught in a quagmire which is of its own making. No political party and no political leader has been committed to national interest in Pakistan. Also, the Pakistani army, covertly referred to as establishment, has always been busy in serving self-interest. No wonder, Pakistan had to be in such a situation where it is today. But there is always a silver line in a cloudy situation.
Pakistan would be bailed out by its long term and time tested allies like the US and the west because of its geo strategic importance. Also, it would force the common Pakistanis to take on the corrupt politicians and the so called establishment because they have been pushed to the wall and there is no alternative left. Pakistan needs a thorough overhaul in the existing political system and containment of the establishment's remote control. This is the question of the existence of the state of Pakistan. This is a bad patch and they will come out of it in due course of time. They simply need to make reasonable decisions and act accordingly.
First of all, they would have to come out of India fixation. Shahbaz Sharif, in a vulnerable moment of rationality, rightly said that Pakistan got nothing by fighting three wars with India. It brought a huge loss of money and men. The creation of Bangladesh gave birth to the biggest refugee problem for India and continuous intrusion of Bangladeshi nationals into India which is continuing till date changing the demography of border states.
What Shareef did not say was the proxy war against India in the form of Pakistan sponsored terrorism for more than three decades which has sapped the vitality of the Pakistani economy. Money that should have been spent on the development of agriculture and industry, health and education and so many other things, was allowed to go down the drain in the name of fighting India. It was a great scam as the large chunk of money spent in this name went into the foreign bank accounts of politicians and top army officers who have bought real estates over there and where they settle after retirement. Pakistan knows that it cannot win against India but maintaining such a facade is so lucrative for Pakistani political leaders and the establishment that it is very hard for them to stop this scam. Besides, such a policy has created so many vested groups that they won't allow the recalibration of the foreign policy of the country with India. It is the question of their bread and butter. This is the reason that Shareef had to revise his statement within a short span of time saying that Kashmir was central to any future talk between the two countries.
Secondly, Pakistan needs to come out of the nuclear power syndrome. It has taken Pakistan nowhere. George Santyana had rightly said, "Those who do not take lessons from history are condemned to repeat it". The USSR was a superpower with a huge nuclear arsenal but it broke down because of its poor economy. The USSR led by Russia never had the resources to compete with America. Pakistan should take a lesson from this page of history and it should work for its economic well-being rather than fighting with India in the name of nuclear parity.
Finally, Pakistan needs to think about the welfare of its people and frame economic policy accordingly. The whole political framework and its agenda have to be restructured in tune with the national interest. The Pakistani leadership must realize that it has a limited role to play in the present day world given their natural resources and knowledge power. One cannot project a larger than life image in world politics. Astute politicians would call your bluff.
A strong and stable Pakistan is necessary for the stability of the region. A weak and vulnerable Pakistan will allow the footprints of expansionist powers there more prominently and dangerously.
(The writer is a noted academician and political commentator. The views expressed in the article are his own.)