Dr Muhammad Khan
IN recent months, the conflicting interests of political parties in Pakistan are taking new and dangerous trends. These self-centred interests of political parties are mostly personality orientated and hereditary in nature. In most of the cases, interests of political parties are in contradiction with those of the national interests of the state of Pakistan. These political parties do everything at the expense of the state, nevertheless; contribute very little towards betterment of the state. Resultantly, the state of Pakistan is undermined and the political parties get stronger and stronger with each passing day. As experienced, upon reaching at the peak of their political power, the political parties undertake two things; one, ignore the well-being of the masses who brought them to power and two, confront the national institutions for promotion of their vested interests. The people of Pakistan are experiencing such an ugly situation in the contemporary phase of Pakistani politics. Through an organized campaign, the national institutions of Pakistan are being targeted and undermined. So much so the unparalleled achievements of the military towards national security are being scorned and challenged by the political forces. Some of the statements of senior politicians at floor of parliament have solemnly criticized the role of the armed forces. The former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ayaz Sadiq has questioned the release of Indian pilot (Wing commander Abhinandan) once his aircraft was shot-down by PAF on 27 February 2019 in AJK area. It was a heroic act of Pakistan Air Force, appreciated worldwide.
Through a political decision, the Indian pilot was returned to India, however, the statement of former speaker has demoralized those, who played decisive role in defeating and crushing the larger Indian designs against Pakistan. Besides, the top military command was criticized from the platform of political forces in their power shows at various locations. Deliberately or otherwise, such criticism is providing ample chances to the rival regional and international forces to destabilize the state of Pakistan. Indeed, destabilization through political unrest and chaos is the real target of the Pakistani rival forces. The political grievances of political parties against each other should not drag the institutions and the state. Let the state of Pakistan remain sacred for everyone and the institution of military as an undisputed national institution in Pakistan. The political forces must revisit motto of their political parties, which establishes relationship between state, political parties and the national institutions. Whereas, the constitution of Pakistan has secured fundamental rights of every Pakistani, the Pakistani nationals are bound to protect the state, its sovereign status and the institutions. State is the basic unit of international relations, the political parties and institutions are meant to follow and secure the interest of the state by all means. “In political theory, sovereignty is a substantive term designating supreme legitimate authority over some polity. In international law, sovereignty is the exercise of power by a state. De jure sovereignty refers to the legal right to do so; de facto sovereignty refers to the factual ability to doing so.”
It is worth mentioning that, Pakistan is the pivot state in Asian Continent. In last seven decades, it has played a decisive role in the international power politics. Throughout during the cold war era, the decade of 1980s and the post-cold war phase of “war on terror” Pakistan has been the centre of all major happenings between major powers. The 21st century has posed yet another critical challenge, where Pakistani geopolitical is being viewed to play a decisive role towards international power politics between major powers. In the global power politics of 21st century five factors make Pakistan as the most strategically located state. One; the three major powers (US, China and Russia) can only implement their strategic goals of attaining or maintaining the top global position while using the geopolitical location of Pakistan. It occupies the centre stage in the power politics of US and China on one hand and US and Russia on the other. Two; Pakistan is the only Muslim nuclear state with top most professional military in the world. Its strategic and military power lowers the chances of influence over its geopolitics by major powers, especially the US led alliance (US-India and Israel). Three; the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will provide Pakistan with ample chances becoming hub future of economic activities. This would reduce its dependence on IMF, World Bank and other states from which Pakistan has been getting financial assistance
Four; Gwader Port will assume the status of economic hub, substantially reducing the economic activities in UAE, Oman and other Arab states which have been exploiting Pakistan on behest of India. Enhanced economic activities within Pakistan will relegate these states on one hand and consume its overseas manpower within Pakistan. Five; an economically affluent and militarily strong Pakistan will not submit itself to any major power or any regional power. Indeed, the rivals of Pakistan would not like Pakistan to come out from their financial crutches. In order to subdue Pakistan, the rival international and regional forces would use all resources at their disposal through various strategies. Destabilizing the state of Pakistan through a political and social unrest and creating chaos among the masses is one such strategy being implemented in the country. Creating hatred against the institutions of the state through political forces and media is yet another strategic move of rival forces, meant to lower the morale of troops, who defeated the evil designs of enemies of Pakistan in last two decades. The people and political forces of Pakistan must understand that, enemies of Pakistan are waging a war against the state and institutions of their security through 5th Generation and hybrid warfare. The way forward to counter these rival strategies is to stay united as a nation, protect national interests, ensure good governance, provide timely justice, respect national institutions and work for economic prosperity of the state of Pakistan and its masses.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
