A Nuclear Armed State on the Brink of a Meltdown

There is no doubt that Pakistan is in trouble. Benazir Bhutto’s assassination last December has left the country in a downward spiral. Pakistan is on the brink of a balance-of-payment crisis with inflation as high as 24% and foreign reserves quickly depleting, the American financial crisis is just a blip on the radar in comparison to the Pakistani economy. The current Taliban insurgency in the Northern region of the country, combined with US military raids, and the bombing that occurred on September 6th that killed over 30 people, one of 400 Pakistani suicide bombings this year only add to the chaotic environment and unstable government in Pakistan. The country is on the brink of a revolution, which the US should be very wary of.

Asif Zardari, Benazir Bhutto’s husband was recently elected as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. He comes to office with a slew of criminal charges and a corrupt political background. Zardari not only has to overcome his suspicious past but he also needs reunite fractured Pakistan. Pakistan needs Zardari to be a reformer; the Biden-Lugar non-military aid will only work to develop the northern tribal regions in Pakistan if extensive civil-service reform occurs. How willing will police officers be to stop accepting bribes if Zardari continues to do so himself? In a Time article by Aryn Baker the important distinction is made that the US cannot only focus on Pakistan’s security needs, but the US must also pay equal attention to Pakistan’s economic development, education, and health care. If the US and Pakistan fail to put the needs of the country’s citizens first, the Pakistani people will turn to the Taliban.

How successful Zardari will be in realigning with the US government, and implementing the necessary changes in Pakistan remains to be seen. These changes need to be implemented soon or there will be far greater problems with the nuclear armed state on the brink of a revolution.

On another interesting note, articles in The New York Times and The Economist had diverging views on how successful Zardari will be.