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The Current Situation in Pakistan
A USIP Fact Sheet
Monday, January 23, 2023
Publication Type: Fact Sheet
Pakistan continues to face multiple sources of internal and external conflict. Extremism and intolerance of diversity and dissent have grown, fuelled by a narrow vision of Pakistan’s national identity, and are threatening the country’s prospects for social cohesion and stability.
The inability of state institutions to reliably provide peaceful ways to resolve grievances has encouraged groups to seek violence as an alternative. The country saw peaceful political transitions after the 2013 and 2018 elections. However, as the country prepares for anticipated elections in 2023, it continues to face a fragile economy along with deepening domestic polarization. Meanwhile, devastating flooding across Pakistan in 2022 has caused billions in damage, strained the country’s agriculture and health sectors, and also laid bare Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate disasters and troubling weaknesses in governance and economic stability.
Regionally, Pakistan faces a resurgence of extremist groups along its border with Afghanistan, which has raised tensions with Taliban-led Afghanistan. Despite a declared ceasefire on the Line of Control in Kashmir in 2021, relations with India remain stagnant and vulnerable to crises that pose a threat to regional and international security. The presence and influence of China, as a great power and close ally of Pakistan, has both the potential to ameliorate and exacerbate various internal and external conflicts in the region.
USIP’S Work
The U.S. Institute of Peace has conducted research and analysis and promoted dialogue in Pakistan since the 1990s, with a presence in the country since 2013. The Institute works to help reverse Pakistan’s growing intolerance of diversity and to increase social cohesion. USIP supports local organizations that develop innovative ways to build peace and promote narratives of inclusion using media, arts, technology, dialogues and education.
USIP works with state institutions in their efforts to be more responsive to citizens’ needs, which can reduce the use of violence to resolve grievances. The Institute supports work to improve police-community relations, promote greater access to justice and strengthen inclusive democratic institutions and governance. USIP also conducts and supports research in Pakistan to better understand drivers of peace and conflict and informs international policies and programs that promote peace and tolerance within Pakistan, between Pakistan and its neighbors, and between Pakistan and the United States.
USIP’s Work in Pakistan Includes:
Improving police-community relations for effective law enforcement
The Pakistani police have struggled with a poor relationship with the public, characterized by mistrust and mistreatment, which has hindered effective policing. USIP has partnered with national and provincial police departments to aid in building police-community relationships and strengthening policing in Pakistan through training, capacity building and social media engagement.
Building sustainable mechanisms for dialogue, critical thinking and peace education.
Nearly two-thirds of Pakistan’s population is under the age of 30. Youth with access to higher education carry disproportionate influence in society. However, Pakistan’s siloed education system does not allow interactions across diverse groups or campuses, leading to intolerance, and in some cases, radicalization. To tackle growing intolerance of diversity on university campuses, USIP has partnered with civil society and state institutions to support programs that establish sustainable mechanisms for dialogue, critical thinking and peace education.
Helping Pakistanis rebuild traditions of tolerance to counter extremists’ demands for violence
USIP supports local cultural leaders, civil society organizations, artists and others in reviving local traditions and discourses that encourage acceptance of diversity, promote dialogue and address social change. USIP also supports media production — including theater, documentaries and collections of short stories — which offer counter narratives to extremism and religious fundamentalism.
Support for acceptance and inclusion of religious minorities
Relations between religious communities in Pakistan have deteriorated, with some instances of intercommunal violence or other forms of exclusion. USIP supports the efforts of local peacebuilders, including religious scholars and leaders, to promote interfaith harmony, peaceful coexistence and equitable inclusion of minorities (gender, ethnic and religious) in all spheres of public life.
Supporting inclusive and democratic institutions
To help democratic institutions be more responsive to citizens, USIP supports technical assistance to state institutions and efforts to empower local governments, along with helping relevant civil society actors advocate for greater inclusion of marginalized groups. Gender has been a major theme of this effort and across USIP’s programming in Pakistan. These programs empower women in peacebuilding and democratic processes through research, advocacy and capacity building.
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At midnight on the night of February 24-25, 2021, India and Pakistan reinstated a cease-fire that covered their security forces operating “along the Line of Control (LOC) and all other sectors” in Kashmir, the disputed territory that has been at the center of the India-Pakistan conflict since 1947. While the third anniversary of that agreement is a notable landmark in the history of India-Pakistan cease-fires, the 2021 cease-fire is fragile and needs bolstering to be maintained.
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Surprisingly, candidates aligned with former Prime Minister Imran Khan won the most seats in Pakistan’s elections. But while voters “have shown their faith in democracy,” the lack of a strong mandate for any specific leader or institution “doesn’t necessarily bode well for [Pakistan’s] stability,” says USIP’s Tamanna Salikuddin.
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The February 2021 ceasefire between India and Pakistan along the Line of Control in Kashmir has—despite occasional violations—turned into one of the longest-lasting in the countries’ 75-year shared history. Yet, as Christopher Clary writes, the ceasefire remains vulnerable to shocks from terrorist attacks, changes in leadership, and shifting regional relations. With the ceasefire approaching its third anniversary, Clary’s report examines the factors that have allowed it to succeed, signs that it may be fraying, and steps that can be taken to sustain it.
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Peace Processes
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Education system in Pakistan: Key issues, problems and future challenges
This paper reviews the current key issues and problems in the education system of Pakistan that pose a challenge for the future growth of the country. The paper uses documentary analysis as the research methodology for data collection. The paper attempts to understand which factors have contributed to the downfall of Pakistani education system. The first part of the paper explains how the system is operated by the government. Moving on, the problems be them external or internal in nature are highlighted and it is delineated how these problems have contributed to greater social demise. The paper further looks into some solutions to the problems aforementioned and urges the government to contribute in due diligence what is required to the education system.
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- The Problem of Pakistani Identity and Writers
Read our complete notes on the essay The Problem of Pakistani Identity and Writers by Intizar Hussain. Our notes cover this essay’s summary and analysis.
The Problem of Pakistani Identity and Writers by Intizar Hussain Summary
(lines 1-7).
Intizar Hussain, in the very first paragraph of his essay, states that he is getting jealous. He then explains that Pakistan and India, both, got independence almost simultaneously. But the problem of identity is only for the Pakistani writers while Indian writers have no such crises. He adds, they might have some other issues but the problem of identity is not within them. He admits that now almost fifty years of independence are to be completed but the problem of identity for Pakistani writers cannot be eliminated
(Lines 8-18)
He asks the readers to allow him so that he can address this problem of Identity which has turned into a controversy. He says those were the early days of Partition when Urdu writers were writing about the human miseries caused by the partition. He says that the writers did not support the partition. He further says that some of the writers in Pakistan, too, were writing against partition and it was disappointing. Writers like Dr Taseer, Mohammad Hassan Askari and Mumtaz Shrin turned against this attitude of the writers and laid the foundations of “Pakistani Adab” which was to be different from Indian literature.
(Lines 19-31)
But this idea was rejected by some of the writers and one of the poets Ahmad Riaz Said;
“Kaun Karsakta hai taqseem adab ki jagir,”
This conflict gave way to another controversy as how to define Pakistani Literature different from that of India. This controversy turned into the dilemma of Identity as what was Pakistani Identity. Intizar Hussain then quotes Faiz Ahmad Faiz, when he said that we celebrate Pakistan because we think that we have different identity based on our distinctive culture that’s why Pakistan was our only solution. But he says that we should have asked, which we now ask ourselves, what actually our different culture is.
(Lines 32-40)
He then states this has the secret of national identity. He then asks a series of questions;
Whether we, as nation are born on 14th August 1947 or we are on old nation? If we are an old nation then how old, exactly. Whether we should trace back our history to Muhammad Bin Qasim when he entered this land or to the old times of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa. Does our culture originate from Islam or from our land? If it is land based than why we are trying to own the Muslim relics of India.
(Lines 41-52)
Intizar Hussain says apart from this controversy, it became a fashion that people started calling it a new born nation. However, they were not aware about the implications involved in calling a new born nation. Even, Muhammad Hassan Askari warns them about the dangers of this. He warns them that by calling a new born nation, it would get difficult to hold East and West Pakistani together, but people were charmed by it. Faiz Ahamd Faiz asserts as well that with the partition a new nation and new country has been born.
(Lines 53-72)
He then gives four different aspects of cultural identity;
This aspect states that culture is a land rooted phenomenon so each region in Pakistan holds its own peculiar culture and there is no integrating force that binds them on a higher level of national culture. On the hand there are people who say that concept of national culture is superior and this regional based culture is not a good idea. The third aspect says in front of pure Islamic culture and negates all other views. While the last aspect is that they trace the cultural identity to Muslim History in sub-continent. Jamil Jalibi calls it Indo-Muslim culture. He says that regions are important aspects of culture but they should contribute to solitary national culture.
(Lines 73-79)
According to Professor Gillani Kamran, during Muslim reign in India, a new culture emerged which we call Indo-Islamic culture which gave awareness to the Muslims of sub-continent in developing their Muslim Identity. This Identity developed because of a common history, a common culture consciousness, and a common heritage.
(Lines 80-84)
But Salim Ahmad raise an objection to the statement. He says how this identity can be emerged due to a common history, a common culture consciousness, and a common heritage because we are told that we have nothing in common with Hindus.
(Lines 85-104)
Intizar Hussain asks another series of question. He asks this identity which became the base for Pakistan why did it become controversial after the birth of Pakistan. He asks another question that why is the case with Quaid e Azam who asserts that with the partition born a new nation whose identity is rooted in common culture. Intizar Hussain then answer as well, he says if say that the experts are misled in stating about the identity developed out of common culture, so, that would not be very correct. Because, we lived with Hindus for centuries in a love-hate relationship. We hate them but are attracted towards their rituals. We call them Kafir yet we live with them in relationships. So in such a situation we felt for them but at the same time we developed our identity for the creation of Pakistan.
(Lines 105-121)
Intizar Hussain says that for this separate identity, we are in debt to Hindus. He says that our identity is based in common culture. After the partition and the elimination of Hindus, we lost the culture balance and our identity grew blur. And because of this, regional identity concepts also came to the surface.
(Lines 122-132)
Faiz objects to this idea and stated that our religion is the base for our culture.
In the last paragraph:
Intizar Hussain quotes Elliot who expresses his apprehension that if Christianity goes, the whole of our culture goes.
The Problem of Pakistani Identity and Writers Analysis
- The essay is of immense importance as it talks about a very grave issue of Identity.
- The author has tried to connect the views f different authors to have a series of statement about the identity of Pakistani writers.
- The issue with Intizar Hussain is that he jumbles up the ideas of different writers and in the end, he is unable to find any logical connection.
- The dilemma with Intizar seems, too, that he himself is in a dilemma of Identity quest because he is unable to find out what our actual identity is.
- Intizar Hussain has quoted a number of writers who talk about the issue of identity and have tried to address the issue of Identity in order to find out the roots of our identity.
- What Intizar Hussain misses is that our identity lies deep in Islam-our religion.
- He does not discuss this point and this is what lacks in the essay.
- Intizar Hussain misses Iqbal as well, who has talked more than enough about our identity. As he says;
Youn To Saayed Bhu, Mirza Bhi Ho, Afghan Bhi ho,
Tum Sabhi Kuch ho Btao To Musalman Bhi Ho…
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
This is the capstone essay of a larger project that looks at Pakistan's medium-term future, defined as the next five to seven years (2012-2017). Other project elements include a
Pakistan's current accou nt deficit has averaged around 4-5% in recent years due to the large trade deficit. Rising global commodity prices, subdued textile demand post-Covid, and the economic ...
The overall percentage was $0.20% earning. The economic progress of the country was $96.80%. This percentage fluctuates over time according to the economic and political conditions of Pakistan. In 2018 it changed to $77.60% and overall entire population earned $1.20%.
Early on, Pakistan's economic growth remained at 3 percent in the fifties with minimum inflation. Poor economic growth was salvaged by the Korean War which prompted the demand for jute that in turn helped Pakistan earn foreign reserves. During this time, the efforts were also galvanized to setup industrial units in Pakistan.
3.1 Lack of uniformity. The system of education in Pakistan according to Iqbal (1981) is not based on uniform principles [5]. Different systems of education are simultaneously working in the country. The curriculum is also not uniformed which has given birth to different schools of thoughts.
Muhammad Yaqub*. 1. Introduction. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) had indicated in its letter of invitation to the Conference that the topic on which I should speak is "Economic Policy after the Crisis". My reaction was that, if this topic was to relate to the situation in Pakistan, we should not talk about economic policy after the crisis ...
Pakistan and the wide-ranging reforms that need to be undertaken to emerge successfully from this crisis. This book on leading issues in the economy of Pakistan covers these areas. In view of the topical nature of this kind of book attemptshave been made to expedite the research, write the chapters, and facilitate early publication.
Pakistan-India rivalry that threatens the entire region's stability and that has a nuclear dimension. Long-standing worries that American citizens have been recruited and employed in Islamist terrorism by Pakistan-based elements have become more concrete in recent months, especially following a failed May 2010 bombing attempt in New York City.
due to pledges to tackle the energy problems that its predecessors had failed to address. But its first year in office saw only partial progress in addressing the deep structural issues facing the energy system. Multiple factors, compounded across multiple governments, have contributed to Pakistan's current energy crisis.
The principal causes of Pakistan's crisis are deep-rooted and structural—namely, Pakistan's weak export base and an imbalance between public spending and income. Exports are a much smaller share of the Pakistani economy than other countries of relative economic standing—8% of GDP in 2017, compared to 20% in Turkey and 52% in Thailand.
1956 and 1958 till the eventual proclamation of the Pakistan's first martial law on October 8th, 1958 by Iskander Mirza, and the death of the Constitution of 1956. After ousting Mirza, Ayub Khan became the president of Pakistan through his system of Basic Democracies and set to work reshaping Pakistan's political structure. He
growth of Pakistan (Zia 2009). In a developing state like Pakistan, good governance through political control can impact the uplifting of both public and private sectors. It is an open secret that the good governance at public and private organizational structure can tangibly contribute to the economic well-
The U.S. Institute of Peace has conducted research and analysis and promoted dialogue in Pakistan since the 1990s, with a presence in the country since 2013. The Institute works to help reverse Pakistan's growing intolerance of diversity and to increase social cohesion. USIP supports local organizations that develop innovative ways to build ...
Memon, G R, Muhammad Farooq Joubish, and Ashraf Muhammad Khurram. "Education in Pakistan: The Key Issues, Problems and New Challenges." Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 6, 2010: 672-677. Memon, Ghulam Rasool. "Education in Pakistan: The Key Issues, Problems and The New Challenges." Journal of Managemnt and Social Sciences, 2007: 110-112.
Pakistan started its early life journey with internal and external complexities that demanded hard struggle for country's survival and political consolidation. Ultimately, the process of nation-building has been complicated and even become a more difficult task by the evolving events and unfavourable political landscape of Pakistan. For
problems that bedevil higher education in Pakistan. But Pakistan offers an instructive counterexample: a many-fold increase in university funding from 2002-2008 resulted in, at best, only marginal improvements in a few parts of the higher education sector. This violation of "commonsense" points to the need for some fresh thinking.
The purpose of this research article is to investigate the key issues, problems and the new challenges in Pakistan. Education plays the role of leadership in the society. The functions of the educational institutions are to develop the people physically, mentally, psychologically, socially, and spiritually. It improves and promotes the economic, social, political and cultural life of the nation.
Socio Economic Problems of Pakistan Essay - Free download as Word Doc (.doc / .docx), PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. Socio Economic Problems of Pakistan Essay
Intizar Hussain, in the very first paragraph of his essay, states that he is getting jealous. He then explains that Pakistan and India, both, got independence almost simultaneously. But the problem of identity is only for the Pakistani writers while Indian writers have no such crises. He adds, they might have some other issues but the problem ...
Shortage of irrigation facilities causes a serious limitation in the expansion of crop area in Pakistan. The lower water supplies, loses from water course in the fields are the serious problems of farm sector. Actual surface water availability is 91.8 million acre feet. Inadequate Agricultural Research.
There exists an inherent promise and intensive potential in educational policies of Pakistan for revolutionizing socio-economic change in the country through education. Pakistan since its independence in 1947 has faced the insufficient educational institutions and lack of qualified teachers which resulted in challenges of access and quality.
Pakistan being a developing country experiences the same problems because of rapid urbanization. Faisalabad is the third largest city (according to the rank-size rule) and is famous for the agro ...