Just weeks away from the historic 2013 general elections, Pakistan’s external and internal dimensions remain in jeopardy. Externally, Pakistan seems to be facing a crisis of alliance. Though there are mixed responses to the status of their bonhomie, Pakistan have not really been keeping well with its key ally United States of America (USA) ever since Osama Bin Laden was neutralised in Abbottabad overtly challenging Pakistan’s sovereignty. Frequent drone attacks in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) region adjoining Afghanistan have also instigated bitterness between the two countries. The US is also wary of Pakistan’s nuclear installations falling in the hands of Islamic fundamentalists.
Despite these problems, analysts believe it is a give and take relationship. Professor Uma Singh of Jawaharlal Nehru University said, ‘US needs Pakistan military for their operations in the area and Pakistan needs US for the money. Whoever comes to power, the relationship would continue.’ She added if Nawaz Sharif comes to power, US may exert pressure on him through Saudi Arabia where Nawaz has a lot of clout.
Ajay Darshan Behera, co-ordinator of Jamia Millia Islamia’s Pakistan Studies Programme, said, ‘Pakistan and US came together for War on Terror after 9/11, which was a US agenda. The US wants Pakistan to behave the way they want and serve their own purpose. The relations have certainly downgraded since the nuclear issue.’ He added that Americans knows that the country has turned against them but they don’t want Pakistan to turn rogue as it will hinder world peace. Pakistan’s relations with India have not been good either with the two countries having a stand-off on LoC issue recently.
Internally too, the conflicts have increased manifold and managing them will be a Herculean task. Despite the passage of 18th amendment (which would give more power to provinces) and province friendly National Finance Commission (NFC), the center-province relations have not seen much improvement. Ethnic, sectarian and political violence continue unabated in the country upsetting the internal dynamism.
According to the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee, 2,124 people were killed in Karachi in 2012, the worst in the past 20 years. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) says 1,800 people died in targeted killings in the first nine months of 2012. The friction between Sindhis and Mohajirs in Karachi persists and the migration of Pashtuns (who have taken over the transport industry) have made matters worse.
The worrisome rise of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has posed some crucial questions for the authorities in Pakistan as well. Alok Bansal, senior fellow at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) said, ‘TTP’s diktat against PPP, MQM and ANP will have an impact on the performance of the parties in the coming elections, especially PPP who will bear the brunt of the violence which the country is witnessing.’ Balochistan is as rebellious as ever and the mysterious disappearance of Baloch people has further alienated the ethnic group from Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunwa remains a breeding ground for Islamist organisations.
Despite these problems, analysts believe it is a give and take relationship. Professor Uma Singh of Jawaharlal Nehru University said, ‘US needs Pakistan military for their operations in the area and Pakistan needs US for the money. Whoever comes to power, the relationship would continue.’ She added if Nawaz Sharif comes to power, US may exert pressure on him through Saudi Arabia where Nawaz has a lot of clout.
Ajay Darshan Behera, co-ordinator of Jamia Millia Islamia’s Pakistan Studies Programme, said, ‘Pakistan and US came together for War on Terror after 9/11, which was a US agenda. The US wants Pakistan to behave the way they want and serve their own purpose. The relations have certainly downgraded since the nuclear issue.’ He added that Americans knows that the country has turned against them but they don’t want Pakistan to turn rogue as it will hinder world peace. Pakistan’s relations with India have not been good either with the two countries having a stand-off on LoC issue recently.
Internally too, the conflicts have increased manifold and managing them will be a Herculean task. Despite the passage of 18th amendment (which would give more power to provinces) and province friendly National Finance Commission (NFC), the center-province relations have not seen much improvement. Ethnic, sectarian and political violence continue unabated in the country upsetting the internal dynamism.
According to the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee, 2,124 people were killed in Karachi in 2012, the worst in the past 20 years. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) says 1,800 people died in targeted killings in the first nine months of 2012. The friction between Sindhis and Mohajirs in Karachi persists and the migration of Pashtuns (who have taken over the transport industry) have made matters worse.
The worrisome rise of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has posed some crucial questions for the authorities in Pakistan as well. Alok Bansal, senior fellow at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) said, ‘TTP’s diktat against PPP, MQM and ANP will have an impact on the performance of the parties in the coming elections, especially PPP who will bear the brunt of the violence which the country is witnessing.’ Balochistan is as rebellious as ever and the mysterious disappearance of Baloch people has further alienated the ethnic group from Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunwa remains a breeding ground for Islamist organisations.