Recent Issues in Pakistan: Student Discussion
February 4, 2008 7:00PM
Lincoln-Filene, Room 202
Organized by the South Asian Political Action Committee, Tufts University

Summary

The South Asian Political Action Committee of Tufts University organized a vibrant student discussion in response to remarks presented at "The Pakistan Crisis," an event held on January 30, 2008 as part of The Fares Lecture Series.

Samad Khurram (Harvard College '09), who personally participated in the civil society movement for the restoration of Pakistan's deposed judges, was invited to speak about his experiences. In discussing his involvement with organizing rallies and protests, he relayed his account of the crackdown that government forces unleashed on himself and his fellow protestors. Khurram also expressed his belief that the Government of Pakistan is culpable for the death of Benazir Bhutto, due to its failure to provide adequate security for her.

Students scrutinized the Pakistan military's past, present, and future role within the government. There was a consensus that the military should, by principle, have no role in politics, but students also questioned whether a curtailed military role would be pragmatic in the short run. The military's economic control of the state, unveiled in Ayesha Siddiqa's recent book Military Inc., was identified as a fundamental roadblock to limiting the military's influence on affairs of the state.

In discussing Pakistan's economy, Khurram argued that there has been no real economic growth, as is indicated by high levels of inflation and economic mismanagement. Faris Islam (Tufts University '11) suggested that high levels of foreign investment and soaring construction business throughout the country actually indicates real gains for the economy of Pakistan.

Heated debate surrounded the topic of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Khurram identified the Soviet-Afghan War of the 1980s as the point from which many of Pakistan's troubles stemmed. Babar Khan (Tufts University '10) and Islam argued that in the context of the Soviet-Afghan War, the Afghan Jihad was necessary for Pakistan's strategic interest and that it was, in fact, a resounding victory for Pakistan. Students concurred that mishandling of the postwar period by subsequent governments, as well as the sudden escape of the United States from the region, were crucial factors leading to Pakistan's troublesome contemporary politics.

~ By Babar Khan (Tufts University '10)

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