Pakistan, Contingency and Kashmir
…The picture appears bleak enough to prompt concern for the survival of Pakistan itself. Stephen P. Cohen, author of The Idea of Pakistan, has authored an important new essay, ”Coping with a failing Pakistan”:
“…will it gradually disintegrate, shedding its character as a moderate Muslim state, losing control over more and more territory? The country is in the metaphorical position of someone who has swallowed poison, sits on a keg of dynamite, is being shot at, all while an earthquake is rumbling through the neighbourhood.” >read more<
Turbulence in Pakistan has only grown more gnarly since our initial posting. We believe it has been obvious for some time that the spectre of a failed nuclear Pakistan is so potentially catastrophic as to warrant intense efforts to move both India and China toward a suitable resolution of the Kashmir issue. Since the bin Laden affair has brought more attention to the regional chaos, its our hope that sustained attention will build critical mass behind this sentiment. Stronger, healthier powers need to work harder fashioning a new approach for India/Pakistan peace.
Protests Flare In Kashmir: 2010 | “Kashmir: The time has come”
Osama was the least of Pakistan’s problems
Pakistan faces severe problems beyond militancy that will not go away with [bin Laden’s] death. In the hours leading up to the fatal raid Pakistan’s president was busy cobbling together an unnatural political alliance to enable his government to pass legislation now that previous allies have parted ways with the ruling party. Meanwhile, and in response, a leader of the main opposition party was meeting with army chief Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, pointing to the role the military still plays in politics. Gas shortages have shut down industry in Punjab province and protests against power cuts are getting violent. The fiscal deficit is ballooning as the government fails to put in place an effective tax net. Recovery from last year’s floods remains slow for those who have lost their homes and livelihoods. Gujranwala saw protests this weekend against the alleged burning of the Quran by local Christians, a development that could easily lead to their trial for blasphemy. Literacy remains shockingly low, and is even falling in some areas. >continue<.
Inside the Pakistani Taliban | America’s Inscrutable Partner
Climate of fear over Pakistan blasphemy laws
Why US mistrusts Pakistan’s powerful spy agency
Why We’re Stuck with Pakistan
Acclaimed Baughman film: Bhutto
Sad, sad Pakistan. Your birth was romantic, even if marred by violence, your childhood idealistic, but somewhere along the journey you lost your way. - Hamza Usman ~ Not Jinnah’s Pakistan
![Pakistan, Contingency and Kashmir
…The picture appears bleak enough to prompt concern for the survival of Pakistan itself. Stephen P. Cohen, author of The Idea of Pakistan, has authored an important new essay, ”Coping with a failing Pakistan”:
“…will it gradually disintegrate, shedding its character as a moderate Muslim state, losing control over more and more territory? The country is in the metaphorical position of someone who has swallowed poison, sits on a keg of dynamite, is being shot at, all while an earthquake is rumbling through the neighbourhood.” >read more<
Turbulence in Pakistan has only grown more gnarly since our initial posting. We believe it has been obvious for some time that the spectre of a failed nuclear Pakistan is so potentially catastrophic as to warrant intense efforts to move both India and China toward a suitable resolution of the Kashmir issue. Since the bin Laden affair has brought more attention to the regional chaos, its our hope that sustained attention will build critical mass behind this sentiment. Stronger, healthier powers need to work harder fashioning a new approach for India/Pakistan peace.
Protests Flare In Kashmir: 2010 | “Kashmir: The time has come”
Osama was the least of Pakistan’s problems
Pakistan faces severe problems beyond militancy that will not go away with [bin Laden’s] death. In the hours leading up to the fatal raid Pakistan’s president was busy cobbling together an unnatural political alliance to enable his government to pass legislation now that previous allies have parted ways with the ruling party. Meanwhile, and in response, a leader of the main opposition party was meeting with army chief Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, pointing to the role the military still plays in politics. Gas shortages have shut down industry in Punjab province and protests against power cuts are getting violent. The fiscal deficit is ballooning as the government fails to put in place an effective tax net. Recovery from last year’s floods remains slow for those who have lost their homes and livelihoods. Gujranwala saw protests this weekend against the alleged burning of the Quran by local Christians, a development that could easily lead to their trial for blasphemy. Literacy remains shockingly low, and is even falling in some areas. >continue<.
Inside the Pakistani Taliban | America’s Inscrutable Partner
Climate of fear over Pakistan blasphemy laws
Why US mistrusts Pakistan’s powerful spy agency
Why We’re Stuck with Pakistan
Acclaimed Baughman film: Bhutto
Sad, sad Pakistan. Your birth was romantic, even if marred by violence, your childhood idealistic, but somewhere along the journey you lost your way. - Hamza Usman ~ Not Jinnah’s Pakistan](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljez8zMeKY1qebfjho1_500.jpg)
