—Thomas Carlyle

At home and abroad, there is a consensus that Pakistan is facing the most serious threat to its existence, but there is a sharp disagreement within the country on the source of the threat and the way to counter it. Many believe it is the Taliban who are the real threat and who are actually dismantling everything that symbolises the state and society of Pakistan but there are some who blame the US for trying to disintegrate Pakistan through a systematic chaos, pushing us to fight the wrong war?

The nation is badly confused and perplexed by these conflicting notions. The recent All Parties Conference called to formulate a unanimous response was hardly helpful to clear the confusion among the common folks. The outcome was a loosely worded resolution allowing different interpretations instead of giving a categorical message. The parties stick to their known positions as the PPP, ANP, PML-Q and MQM support the ongoing military operation against the insurgents, in unambiguous terms, while the JI, JUP, and the PTI continue to oppose it. The PML-N cautiously supports the government position.

A nation faced with a mortal threat cannot afford to lose the perspective. While we recognise that the threat is of existentialist nature, unfortunately we don’t clearly identify the enemy. What impedes the clarity on it?

The roots of confusion lie in four factors: defining the idea of Pakistan, the visible American involvement producing two types of responses; pro-Americanism (compliance at state level) and anti-Americanism (at societal level), the credibility deficit of the political leadership, and our fondness for conspiracy theory. All these factors contribute to make the things more incomprehensible and complex. The unsettled ideological debate on the idea of Pakistan between conservative Islamists and mainstream liberals has confused the average citizens. The Islamists’ retrogressive idea of Pakistan is diametrically different from the progressive concept of the founding fathers and their associates. Islamists’ relentless propaganda about the “ideology” of Pakistan has led to create a unique dilemma regarding our national identity. The question: are we first Pakistani or Muslim? is the corollary of this controversy. No Iranian, Egyptian or Saudi faces such a question. Then, why we have unnecessarily muddled the sense of national identity?

Actually the question of national identity is closely related to power. Historically, the religious parties opposed Pakistan because they believed that Islam cannot be confined within a territorial entity. But, ironically, after the birth of Pakistan they jumped to grab the opportunity by claiming that the country was in fact created for Islam and in the name of Islam. The objective was to make inroads into the power structure. The design was simple: if we accept the proposition that we are first Muslims and the country was created for Islam it automatically gives Mullah a political clout and also veto power in the name of Islam.

The Islamists successfully instilled their version of Islam into the body politic of the country because there happened to be weak and poor leadership at the helm of state affairs. The state’s failure to become a democratic polity gradually weakened the position of the liberal, modernist elite. The successive regimes, being politically weak, succumbed to the pressures and blackmail of the religious lobby and let it to become the interpreter of the idea of Pakistan. The people in general found it difficult to reconcile with the emerging reality but then religion is a sensitive matter for them.

Secondly, the American factor has also played a role in confusing the issues. The US involvement in our national affairs and a collaborationist attitude of the ruling elite along with its inept and half-hearted decision-making has complicated the matters. Given the context of widespread anti-Americanism, even if the leadership acts against local insurgents for its own survival it is seen as doing the American bid.

Thirdly, there is credibility deficit between the leadership and the people. The president is increasingly seen as an incompetent leader who is more interested in foreign trips than the internal affairs. The prime minister remains overshadowed by his powerful party boss and the president. The interior minister is fond of making thoughtless statements. One often gets perplexed about the purpose of his pronouncements.

Finally, the conspiracy theorists also confuse the issues. These theories sit well with the people who are in a state of denial and look for scapegoats. Notwithstanding the uneasy situation, we must recognise that this is time to wake up. Pakistan is fighting for its survival. We need to decide our choice: are we going to live in an Islamic (dynamic and progressive), democratic, constitutional and pluralistic polity or we reconcile with Taliban way of life?

Admittedly, our political system is seriously flawed and needs to be rectified but still it gives us freedom, the right to express, dissent and criticise. The Taliban code extends no such rights. How should we look like? What should we wear and how and when to pray? Who can go to school and who cannot? All these questions are decided by gun. Is this an alternative to (even) a flawed state? Obviously not. We must wake up and fight back to defend our way of life and the country that gives us opportunity to live as free citizens.

The writer is a PhD student in international relations department at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.