Pakistan on the Verge of Global Isolation
Pakistan is at risk of facing global isolation due to a series of issues, including widespread obscurantism, support for extremism, and disregard for human rights, according to prominent Pakistani intellectuals and rights activists. The problem has garnered attention at a conference titled "The Future of Pakistan" organized by South Asians Against Terrorism and for Human Rights (SAATH) in a location away from Pakistan to protect the security of free thinkers. The participants expressed serious concerns about Pakistan’s trajectory, its militarization, limited space for liberal ideas, increasing threats to democracy, and the inability of political parties to prioritize human rights and social justice.
The gathering resulted in the "London Declaration for Pakistani Pluralism," which stressed that Pakistan faces the risk of global isolation due to obscurantism, official support for extremism, and general disregard for human rights. The report also mentioned that Pakistan ranks 147th in the United Nations’ Human Development Index and 143rd in the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap report. Despite its size and military strength, Pakistan’s economy ranks only 26th in terms of GDP per capita and 42nd in terms of the nominal GDP.
The paper noted that instead of addressing these issues with fresh ideas, the Pakistani state tends to appease religious extremists, perpetuates extremism, and allows it to spread freely, without providing the people of Pakistan with accurate information about their country. It further highlighted that Pakistan has failed to confront harsh realities, instead being fed conspiracy theories and exaggerated threats of national security from others.
The declaration also pointed out that the state continues to express a willingness to engage with religious extremists and terrorists, rather than support liberal, progressive, and nationalist groups within Pakistan. This tendency is further emphasized by the targeting of Baloch, Muhajir, Sindhi, and Pashtun segments undermining their candidates’ electoral mandates. The report reinforces the assertion that the state pursues repressive policies towards minority provinces and ethnic groups.
Published: October 30, 2016 at 7:33 pm (IST)
