We are suffering in all fields because of the unresolved conflict between India and Pakistan... the nuclear arms race between India and Pakistan bleeding our economy... But Pakistan suffering more...
When it gained independence in 1947 from UK, Pakistan's average economic growth rate since independence has been higher than the average growth rate of the world economy during the period. Average annual real GDP growth rates[22] were 6.8% in the 1960s... During the 1960s, Pakistan was seen as a model of economic development around the world, and there was much praise for its economic progress. Karachi was seen as an economic role model around the world, and there was much praise for the way its economy progress as well.. Many countries sought to emulate Pakistan's economic planning strategy and one of them, South Korea, copied the city's second "Five-Year Plan"... But 1965 war caused the loss of all its economic gain... 1971 war and its partition totally destruct its economy.... Pakistan policy makers totally given away its goldern opertunity to became a gud economy...
We want to be like European union... If China,India,Pakistan and Bangladesh forms South Asia Union we can even challenge the west economically and militarily...
We must doubt the conflict is keeping alive by someone... Take a look at pakistan education system...By this type of education they can achieve their goal,but the children and country will suffer....
Published in The Express Tribune, May 8th, 2011 (can't post the link beause required 30 posts to post a link)
Social studies textbooks teach that India attacked us in 1948 and 1965 (class five); and Kargil (class three, Meri Kitab). Bengali separatism was a result of Hindu teachers and traders; and after 1965 war India conspired with the Hindus of Bengal and succeeded in spreading hate among the Bengalis about West Pakistan and finally attacked on East Pakistan in December 71, thus causing the breakup of East and West Pakistan. In fact, some textbooks say that we had almost won the 1971 war!
Throughout the textbooks, subtly or brazenly there is glorification of war and the capability to wreak damage and contain the enemy. What could be more damaging to young minds than imbibing half-truths and accepting violence as legitimate? A class five Social Studies textbook teaches: India is our traditional enemy and we should always keep ourselves ready to defend our beloved country from Indian aggression. This is not to say that Indian or Bangladeshi textbooks are free of biases, but we need to fix our problems before imitating wrongs done by others.
In post-1979 Pakistan, the penchant for jihad has grown stronger. The National Curriculum guidelines for primary schools cite a key learning outcome as recognising the importance of Jehad in every sphere of life. Another macabre gem is to train children in making speeches on Jehad and assessing their spirits while making speeches on Jehad, Muslim History and Culture. What happened to 5,000 years of Pakistans history?
Sadly, generations have now grown up espousing the cause of jihad so well laid out in our textbooks that the reversal of this process may take another 10 years or more. Little wonder, then, that when I received an invitation for the Saarc Literature festival in New Delhi, my eight-year-old emphatically advised me: you cant go to the enemy country. What could be more worrying for a South Asia pacifist?
