We are passing through a critical stage of our history’ has been the common axiom in Pakistan for decades now. Nevertheless, Pakistani nation is still unaware as who is responsible for creating this instability and disorder in the country. Besides, the masses question as, when and how, the state and society of Pakistan will come out from this insecurity, political polarization, ethnic and sectarian prejudice, economic crises, and above all the recurrent chaos at national level. In the absence of consensus among the national leadership over the national issues there is a rapid rise of chaos and confusion among the masses at large. The political instability gives rise to social unrest and segmentation in the society while increasing the vulnerabilities and insecurity. In last few years, these factors further impacted national economy while simultaneously exposing Pakistan for exploitation by external forces and domestic chaos and uncertainties among masses.
Unfortunately, despite passage of seventy-five years, Pakistan has not come out from these elements of instability and chaos at national level. Each government face the challenge of its political survival from the day it is elected and instead of working for the national development and economic prosperity of the people, successive governments take all legal and illegal measures to complete their tenures. This includes; political bribe, violation of merit system, undesired and harmful alliances at home and abroad and above all ignoring the implementation of national interest and wellbeing of the state and society of Pakistan. This all is happening in Pakistan besides so many other ills and evils for decades now. The unfortunate aspect of this all is that, there is no realization among those who cause these problems and play with the future of Pakistan and Pakistanis and yet remains at the helm of affairs. Unfortunately, the split mandate as a result of General Election-2024 further destabilized the political order in the country. Thus, the political polarization, started in February 2022 is still continuing which is badly damaging the national image and the process of democratization. Taking advantage of the political instability, economic down-fall and social unrest in Pakistan, the external rival forces find an opportune time to further destabilize Pakistan by exploiting its existing fault lines; using militancy and economy as the main tools. Militancy emanating from western borders is spreading all over Pakistan, targeting security personnel and civilians alike. The Interim Afghan Taliban Government is fully supporting the TTP and other militant organizations, attacking Pakistan.
History proves that, states with strong domestic order, social cohesion, political stability, national harmony and a visionary leadership are less susceptible for foreign invasions and aggressive acts of external forces. Contrarily, countries with domestic chaos and political disorder easily became victim to external conspiracies and aggression.
Some of the recent examples are; Libya, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. These states once had admirable living standards and harmonized domestic order, giving job opportunities to rest of the world. The domestic unrest, political rivalries, bad governance and lack of statesmanship among the top national leadership exposed them for external exploitation and current level of state collapse.
Such a happening can take place anywhere with any country, since international system is based on power politics where states tend to weaken the rival states for the expansion of their influence and power. The state of Pakistan itself became a victim of external conspiracies and aggression in 1971, mainly because of political polarization, self-seeking political leadership, bad governance, festering social cohesion and self-centered leadership at the helm of affairs. Today, once again the foes of Pakistan are all out to create domestic chaos and political unrest in Pakistan. This is a dangerous situation, facing Pakistan. At this critical juncture of its history, Pakistan cannot afford a political volatility, domestic unrest and fragmented national image. Unfortunately, this all is happening after this resilient nation successfully defeated the globally imposed terrorism against the state and society of Pakistan. This externally imposed terrorism was defeated through valiant act of heroism, undertaken by Pakistani Military where nation stood behind them wholeheartedly.The evolving political instability, social unrest, economic melt-down and resurgence of terrorism provides the rival forces an opportunity to fuel the situation to the disadvantage of Pakistani state, society and for their own advantage in subsequent phase. Therefore, in order to find a way out from all these domestic and external challenges there is a dire need for the initiation of Grand National Dialogue.
Through this Grand National Dialogue, political forces and institutions must reach over to consensus on; a) ending political instability and political polarization, b) innovation based indigenous economic revival, c) a strategy to counter the rising trends of militancy as a national resolve, d) promotion of national integration and tolerance, e) improving the living standards of the masses, f) reinvigorating the justice system and improving the accountability process and g) release all political prisoners, and h) immediate restoration of confidence of the masses over the state and its institutions. These issues need immediate and thorough debate in the Grand National Dialogue.An agreeable outcome of these dialogues can restore domestic order which will defy external conspiracies and economic revival of Pakistan. Attainment of these broad objectives as a result of Grand National Dialogue will lead the nation towardsa general consensus on all issues at national level. The national consensus will be the starting point for bringing reforms in all those areas which somehow triggered crevice in the political and governance system of the state. Owing to highly volatile situation, the process of initiation of Grand National Dialogue must start sooner than later.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
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