Economy that appears to be insolvent, but sustained by a huge undocumented sector that makes a mockery of formal policy regimes. And this inherently volatile political economy generates windfall gains for the rich and powerful while condemning the mass of working people to violence, economic insecurity and repression.
Many commentators have argued that the days of easy money are now over, and that Pakistan cannot continue to rely on rentier logics — including war and ‘counterterrorism’ — to sustain a bloated national security apparatus.
Peshawar was on the frontline of the US and Saudi-backed ‘jihad’ in the 1980s, and then also on the frontline of the ‘war on terror’ through the first two decades of this century. The Pakistani state (read: establishment) garnered tens of billions in American military aid in both eras. The people of the city have remained expendable pawns as the dollars have not stopped.
Strategic games generate substantial opportunities to make money, private American defence contractors allegedly working in tandem with the Pentagon showing the way to those of their ilk globally.
On the one hand is the massive economic clout of foreign patrons of the religious right, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE. They have pumped money into formal institutions like seminaries and sections of the media propagating a particular religious worldview.
The Americans have come and gone. But the establishment’s desire for strategic depth in Afghanistan and its weaponisation of religion in society and politics appears to be intact. It is systematic and not just about faith as ideology or social and political control. There are economic interests too.
It has now been over seven years since the APS attack, an unprecedented tragedy which triggered resounding cries of ‘No more!’. But the people of Peshawar remain on the frontline of a grisly, violent conflict in which even the principal antagonists remain nebulous.
Hence the peculiar nature of the school curriculum designed to disable critical thinking, the surfeit of moral teachings extolling obedience to authority, and the propagation of narratives that project enemies in every corner.
The impoverishment of citizens has cascading downstream effects that buy short-term relief while incubating long-term damage.
That is ensured by crushing unions and closing eyes to the depredations of contract labour
profligate state
In effect, the state is existing to oppress citizens while the nation exists to be pawned to creditors.
Take democracy. Everyone is aware that the facade has masked authoritarian rule
inanimate
They have widened now to the point that the structure is wobbling.
. It is clear that the Sharif family’s penchant for appointing family members to key positions is unsettling to some in the party
Given his role and close association with the senior-most leadership, it was jarring that, when the PDM came to power and Shehbaz Sharif became PM, Mr Abbasi did not take a cabinet position or portfolio
These fissures have not appeared out of nowhere
For a party that has consistently avoided facing harsh truths when it comes to its everlasting internal power politics, Mr Abbasi’s bowing out has further muddied the waters.
Many commentators have argued that the days of easy money are now over, and that Pakistan cannot continue to rely on rentier logics — including war and ‘counterterrorism’ — to sustain a bloated national security apparatus.
Many commentators have argued that the days of easy money are now over, and that Pakistan cannot continue to rely on rentier logics — including war and ‘counterterrorism’ — to sustain a bloated national security apparatus.
The Pakistani state (read: establishment) garnered tens of billions in American military aid in both eras. The people of the city have remained expendable pawns as the dollars have not stopped.
Strategic games generate substantial opportunities to make money, private American defence contractors allegedly working in tandem with the Pentagon showing the way to those of their ilk globally.
On the one hand is the massive economic clout of foreign patrons of the religious right, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE. They have pumped money into formal institutions like seminaries and sections of the media propagating a particular religious worldview.
weaponisation of religion in society and politics appears to be intact.
It has now been over seven years since the APS attack, an unprecedented tragedy which triggered resounding cries of ‘No more!’. But the people of Peshawar remain on the frontline of a grisly, violent conflict in which even the principal antagonists remain nebulous.
galling reminder
The response of Pakistani officialdom was predictable
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