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		55years on...
FOCUS ARCHIVE: Bitter Past-Better Future National Security Council Dilemma of Musharraf Regime Vertical escalation in SouthAsia Fog of War sets in... India Raises the Stakes Anarchy if vacuum not filled The True Reason behind Sep 11 Attacks Holding onto a Shaky Coalition Operation Infinite Freedom Benazir, on the Taliban Pakistan in Dilemma Road to Independence -part II Road to Independence -part I of Rains and Rawalpindi Al-Khalid Battle Tank Fall at Agra A Monument of Hope		August 1947 witnessed the birth of a nation few thought ever existed as muslims of India had always lived as brothers with the hindus and sikhs over centuries of rather harmonious co-existence. The partition however changed it all with the bloody trans-migration, largest ever in history, the scars of which are still evident 55 years on... ISLAMABAD,PK President Pervez Musharraf hoists the national flag in the convention center, under tight security witnessed by a selected audience comprising mostly of school children and army officiers. Authorities blame the rains for this under-the-roof ceremony but everyone in Islamabad knows that even the President is not safe these days. One finds it hard to believe that 55 years have passed since her Independence from British India. The hindus called it the break-away unit then and one could easily imagine how they felt at the time of partition as we too felt the same in 1971 when Bangladesh broke away. Pakistan in its brief history has been through a lot including 3 major wars with India apart from usual skirmishes across the border, civil unrest and military rule, break away of Eastern Unit, Afghan war and recently the fundamentalist threat. It is surely remarkable the way Pakistanis have been able to stick together for this long.
		PAKISTAN OVER THE YEARS The 50s Mohammad Ali Jinnah never got the chance to finish what he started, his successors however managed to keep things on track in the 50s and managed to establish foreign relations on both regional and international fronts. China, Japan, Iran and Turkey are worth mentioning. With the Indian side tilting towards the USSR, the US thought its best interest would be to have a close ally in Pakistan and thus pampered the juvenile state for obvious reasons as the post WWII scenario saw the birth of the cold-war with the US and USSR hunting for possible allies across the globe. Pakistan thus became the hallmark of Freedom and Democracy in South Asia as the Indians bonded with the Communist forces of USSR. Liaqat Ali Khan became one of the first leaders from Pakistan to visit Washington and address the Congress. Pakistan in the 50s was all set to embark on a journey to national progress and prosperity.. The 60s What was started in the 50s was however never realised in the 60s as Pakistan saw its first Military Takeover by General Ayub Khan. The budding democracy was badly damaged which showed its consequences for years to come. Fortunately things soon changed with Ayub Khan becoming the President. With continued US endorsement and political stability, the economy was on a fast track towards prosperity with Pakistan ranking in top ten economies of Asia. Such was the boom that economists from South Korea, China and ASEAN countries would quote Pakistani policy and reforms. Pakistan became a major exporter of agri-products including cotton and garments. Back in 60s Pakistan was also renowned for producing Doctors and Engineers sought for by the West and Arab nations. India attacked Pakistan in 1965, luckily diplomatic ties with China and the US helped Pakistan greatly as the Indians under-estimating Pakistani military suffered a shameful defeat and went for a diplomatic solution. Pakistan was stronger than ever.. The 70s Unfortunately good times dont last for long, 1971 was the black year for Pakistan as it split into two, the eastern unit broke away forming Banglsdesh, but not without Indian intervention. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto came to power in what remained of a shattered nation. Bhutto realised the need for social and economic revival and thus coined the infamous moto of 'Roti, Kapra aur Makan'. The nation traumatised by the recent events bought the idea and Bhutto turned into a national hero. Bhutto called for a stronger Pakistan both militarily and economically, thus he looked for partners in the developing world especially among the muslim nations. Pakistan joined the Non-Alligned nations perhaps because the prevailing geo-political scenario favoured staying out of militatry conflicts and was rightly done so. The 70s witnessed the birth of the modern society with bars and dance floors in every posh locale of the country. Five star hotels sprout up in Karachi and Lahore with teens clad in bell-bottoms and sporting 'bee-gees locks' taking to the dance floors. The Pakistani society had never been so liberal.. The 80s The late 70s saw a decline in Bhutto's popularity owing mostly to the economic slowdown but also in part due to regional security fears after Invasion of Afghanistan by USSR in 1979. The US felt a major insult to its plans for world domination but the Vietnam episode prevented it from sending in US troops to Afghanistan. Instead it sought for a regional allies and found one in ever ready Pakistan. General Zia-ul-Haq thus 'assumed' power alongwith the task of fighting America's holy crusade against Communist forces in Afghanistan. The ever vigilant Pakistani people hailed the change to a military ruler amid heightened security fears from India on one side and its close ally USSR on the other. The US thus started the notorious Jihad by funding scores of madrassas and training camps across NWFP and Baluchistan, all in the name of Holy War against unislamic forces, recruiting thousands of youth from Pakistan as well as from Arab countries. Pakistan became the front line in the war on communism, the Pakistan Army and ISI getting enormous kick backs in the process as billions of dollars kept pouring in from the Western Capitals and Arab countries. Pakistani people, sadly though, were kept out of it all and the 80s thus witnessed a down sliding economy and a divided society as Zia enforced strict Islamic laws in the country crubbing social liberty enjoyed only a decade ago. Pakistan endorsed Islamic values becaming an Islamic Republic.. The 90s The war in Afghanistan was finally over with the collapse of the Soviet Union. As the USSR ceased to exist so did the military alliance formed against it. Americans considered it a job well done and handed over General Zia his final pay check...! General Zia-ul-Haq surviving more than a decade as the ruler of Pakistan was surely an achievement however his era did not leave much to remember him for except for the military stability under tough times which is just enough for the ever-vigilant unsecure common man. Post-war scenario remained bleak for Pakistan, a promising economy of the 60s and 70s was now shattered by years of slow growth and over inflation. Moreover, millions of Afghan refugees added to her problems and on top of that, all external fundings had almost ceased. Fundamentalist elements in the country remianed strong, later Bhutto's daughter Benazir returned from exile to claim the throne and got elected twice, so did Nawaz Sharif - a rich business man from Punjab. The post-Zia era witnessed a surge in political activity with 5 governments changing in a decade sadly though. Pakistanis managed to achieve new heights in corruption ranking 2nd in the world at one time. Pakistani sports chapter looked promising though with 4 crowns of Cricket, Hockey, Squash and Snooker at one time. The political instability however added to economic down slide with foreign reserves drastically reduced towards the end of the century. Pakistan was poorer than ever.. 21st Century The dawn of a new century looked promising than ever after attaining 1999 Nuclear status, although Pakistan was under military rule once again but heightened military tensions with India and global terrorist threats however, somehow managed to justify the military rule, as always! Pakistan was on the track of economic revival, so did the government claim, but with US backing in return for Pakistan's betrayal of Taliban, foreign reserves rose to some extent. Pakistan joined the US led coalition against world terrorism, out of compulsion though, which brought the Taliban down in Afganistan.As you sow so shall you reap! America got what it deserved for its deeds back in the 80s. Luckily for Pakistan, the US was back in Afghanistan for its unfinished business namely finishing off the jihadi movement it started against the communists in 80s which had gone on a global terror rampage resulting in 9/11 attacks in NewYork and Washington. Pakistan was promised economic support in return but soon the dispersed jihadi elements found their way into Pakistan claiming mostly foreign victims, badly damaging Pakistan's global prespective and thus its economy.
		.:: Editor's Note ::. Today, after 55 years of Independence, Pakistan stands on the crossroads of progress and prosperity if the fundamentalist threat is overcome and present economic policies continued with political stability... or otherwise.. more chaos and instability if the fundamentalist elements in the society manage disrupt economy by sectarian violence against christians and foreigners. However only time can tell what future holds for Pakistan, all we can do is hope and pray that good times prevail in this Land of the Pure for years and centuries to come... Pakistan Zindabad!
		Filed on August 14th 2002.

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The 50s

The 60s

The 70s

The 80s

The 90s

21st Century