Geopolitics

Where Debt Ridden, Radicalized, Chaotic Pakistan leading to?  
Star Rating Loader Please wait...
Issue Net Edition | Date : 06 Nov , 2018

Last week has seen Pakistan reaching out to every conceivable friend for bailout assistance. It was also seen unable to control radical elements which overpowered Governments decision making and judiciary in Asia Bibi’s case, as well as providing big relief to some militant organizations like JuD and FIF to operate freely.

Today Imran Khan is in China to nod for everything what Chinese say, as Head of a debt ridden country, after criticizing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for very long and threatening to review the same, till he was elected. Surely he would have realized that it’s not easy to head a pseudo democratic government, under the shadow of its Army, ISI and radicalized elements in Pakistan, a country which is in financial chaos and needs some oxygen in terms of USD to breathe. CPEC has pushed Imran Khan government external debt to $76.3 billion by 2018. His domestic debt has increased to Rs17483 billion by 2018.

As per State Bank of Pakistan Report the total debt of Pakistan in 2018 stands at 78.4 percent of its GDP. With foreign reserve dipping to approximately $8 billion, what he has got from Saudi Arabia is meager $3 billion BOP support for one year and one year deferred payment facility for import of oil up to $3 billion is peanuts seeing the magnitude of crisis. He would have gone to China mentally prepared to mortgage anything to get a similar bailout package

Chinese Concerns beyond Debt Trap in Bailing out Imran

China knows that despite its help Pakistan will have to go to IMF for another bail out (thirteenth time).  China may not be comfortable with the kind of transparency being demanded by them including the details of debt to China. It may also not be keen to be pulled into the middle-east cauldron, rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran or Shia-Sunni divide.  China itself is struggling with Trade war and poor returns on investment in BRI.

Since the launch of the CPEC in 2015, power generation and infrastructure projects in Pakistan worth US$28 billion have either been completed or proceeded to advanced stages of construction. China will like to have assurance of Imran Khan about smooth development of the project, because he has slashed $12 billion reducing CPEC to be US $50 billion project from planned US$62 billion, and ordered an audit of the same.

Despite Imran’s anxiety and optics of wiping out corruption by selling Mercedes fleet, Chinese will like to wait for any big ticket announcement till they are sure about security of their project, 30,000 workers, security personals, and future of his honeymooning with Pakistani Army, ISI, and militant groups.

It can also be argued that to avoid IMF scrutiny China may be little more liberal with debt aid package to keep Pakistan afloat minus IMF loan, if possible. There can also be some quid pro quo in keeping US out of this strategic space, some land grab (With earlier precedence of ceding Saksham Valley to China) or mortgaging some other sovereign rights.    

Internal Chaos due to Islamic Radicalisation

The way the Supreme Court decision to acquit Christian woman Asia Bibi in a blasphemy case, created an Islamic rhetoric and mass protests by radicalized elements. Militant groups like Tehereek-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) and others including Hafiz Saeed outfits, out rightly challenging the Government machinery, Supreme Court and Law and Order machinery, despite a warning personally by Imran Khan, indicates mass radicalization. Radical elements forced Government to an extent that it had to strike a deal with them, not to allow her to fly out by putting her on Exit Control List (ECL).

The militant groups like Jammat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Falah-I Insaniniyat (FIF) have been taken off from the list of banned outfits. Many terror organizations operating in Pakistan are beyond their control as well. The assassination of  Maulana Samiul Haq, the chief of his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam also called as “the Father of Taliban”, and many others justifies the same The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) visit to Pakistan last month has also expressed dissatisfaction over any worthwhile control over terror funding.

The support of Pakistan Army and ISI to have well developed terror support infrastructure to pursue proxy war against India and Afghanistan is unlikely to be weakened due to their flawed narrative of ‘India Threat Theory’ to legitimize holding strings of power in their hand to protect their people, irrespective of the cost being paid in terms of economic and social needs of the country.

The fact that there has been further increase in defense expenditure and Pakistan aspires to the fourth largest nuclear power in the world, clearly indicates that its military will not allow the Government to muddle with its plans irrespective of the concern whether the public gets two times bread or otherwise.

Is Pakistan moving towards a Failed Jihadist State

 The Asia Bibi case gives an impression that Pakistan is in the dangerous path of Islamic radicalization, which can lead itself into a semi-caliphate, if percentage of radicalization in Pakistani Army increases, but there is a catch.

An unstable failed Pakistan is not in global interest, nor in the interest of China as well as India, because it will take no time in getting converted into largest jihadist caliphate, should majority of Pakistani Army radicalize, which no outsider wants, more so when it’s a nuclear state. It is the biggest harbor of terrorists in the world, and does not seem to be inclined for any change in status quo.  It has been kept financially afloat in past by United States, because of the reasons mentioned above and its strategic location, which was crucial to them at that point of time. Now for similar reasons and getting warm water access to its western region, China may have every reason to keep it financially afloat.

Pakistan’s other friends may also help directly or indirectly to pursue their own specific agenda  like Saudi Arabia may be happy to promote its Sunni ideology in competition with Shea ideology of next door neighbor Iran. Russia too may be keen to sell weapons, hence may not help financially, but in terms of military hardware. With the kind of Chinese investments and manpower involved, it may not be an exaggeration to say that it may lead Pakistan to be a future Chinese colony.

For the time being China and other interested parties will not let Pakistan sink. From Indian point of view neither the proxy war, nor terror funding, nor terrorist activities across the border going to be affected even if FATF declares Pakistan grey/black as there are many others who would like to make the best of crisis in Pakistan.

Rate this Article
Star Rating Loader Please wait...
The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the Indian Defence Review.

About the Author

Maj Gen SB Asthana

is a Strategic and Security Analyst, a Veteran Infantry General with 40 years experience in National & International Fields and UN. A globally acknowledged strategic & military writer/analyst authored over 350 publications. Interviewed by various National and International news channels/newspapers/organisations. Currently Chief Instructor, USI of India, the oldest Indian Think-tank in India. On Governing/Security Council CEE, IOED, IPC, ITVMNN and other UN Organisations. On Advisory Board of SWEDINT, member EPON. Expert Group Challenges Forum, Former Additional Director General Infantry. Awarded twice by President of India, United Nations, former Prime Minister Maldova and Governor of Haryana.

More by the same author

Post your Comment

2000characters left