Based on our internal and external policies since many years, particularly after 9/11 one can see Pakistan falling between quasi and soft state lines. The two concepts of quasi and soft state are leading terminologies in political science being propounded by a number of scholars such as Robert Jackson, Gunner Myrdal, Samuel Huntington, Lipset and others.

The sovereignty of quasi states is dependent on external support and is sensitive to external treat by major power(s). Quasi states are those states that are not fully developed politically and economically with loose sense of nationalism. The foreign policy of quasi states is largely not independent and dependent on major power(s). The soft states refers to those countries, which are politically weak. They being marked by bad governance are unwilling to execute programs effectively; while they proclaim the need for radical social change, they emphasise the need to preserve the traditional culture and maintain ethnic integrity.

We are compromising on our sovereignty for security reasons. Nation-states that compromise their sovereignty for security reasons either lose both or deserve none. In the past we joined alliances to strengthen our security by joining SEATO and CENTO and jumped from qualified neutrality to unqualified alliance that reflected on our relations with all the countries with which we maintained diplomatic ties. We provided bases to the Americans that ultimately resulted in the U-2 incident that brought Pakistan in direct confrontation with the USSR. We supported Afghan Jihad and compromised our sovereignty by providing bases to Mujahideen. We supported Taliban for the security of the western border and soon after 9/11 all reversed under the American threat.

In the briefing on the eve of the arrival of the Assistant Secretary of State on U turn in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in September 2001 when an Ex-Foreign Secretary of Pakistan interrupted by asserting that Pakistan and the US had long ties of friendship, he was snubbed by the US delegate, "No, our friendship begins from today, either you be with us or against." We had no middle way and were vulnerable to the decision. It happens with quasi states as Robert Gilpin, a realist theorist due to his focus on power politics said "A dominant power defines the rules of the international system and makes its repercussions for small powers in redefining its foreign policy. The small states treated like quasi states have to follow the dictates," as we did after 9/11 or are doing now. The sovereignty is negative and externally motivated.

Richard Boucher, Assistant Secretary of State, comes and guides our future agenda. On his arrival to Quetta he was treated like the head of state visiting Pakistan first time. All the schools and roads from the airport to the Governor's House were closed inorder to avoid any trouble. Forget about Richard Boucher, even Hamid Karzai threatens and defies our policies baseless and terrorism ridden. Is not this pity for us as a nation?

We are politically weak and destabilised in governance like many soft states where there are crises of political development and are unwilling to execute programmes effectively. Take the case of Kalabagh Dam, having become a hard nut to crack for our rulers. We have been bending on consensus after consensus in or against without realising that the construction of dams throughout the world in large are beneficial, no matter whatever negative consequences it has.

A soft state is largely under a class of rulers who suffer from the crisis of legitimacy. A nation is built on the aspiration and trust of its people. A nation is neither run nor developed on empty slogans and pseudo politics. Pakistan was established sixty years ago. It may not be a long period in the history of nation building; nonetheless, it is sufficient enough to make adequate progress in the development of important infrastructure. China, Malaysia, Indonesia and South Korea achieved nationhood after we did but have progressed far ahead of us. We fail to even learn lessons from Iran. The country is badly swayed by load shedding with major cities like Karachi succumbing normally from 8 to 16 hours a day. Our rulers have not only failed to fix our priorities but have turned a blind eye to the promotion of so many important sectors which otherwise would have brought a boon to the nation.

Email: dera1955@yahoo.com

-- Nation