
Kolkata, Jan 24 (IANS) America's loss of interest in Pakistan was a boon, according to historian Ayesha Jalal who Saturday said encouraging signs were there for democracy to return and thrive in the country often described as a "failed state".
Delivering the 125th Sarat Chandra Bose Anniversary lecture here, the Pakistan-American historian also called for giving time to Pakistan to become a functional democracy.
"The best thing that has happened to Pakistan in years is America is losing interest. Those who want to see the return of democracy in Pakistan, they would certainly hope that America takes less interest in Pakistan because its only interest has been the army," said the Tufts University professor.
"Pakistan's problem has been continuous disruption of the political process by the military. Democracy is a conflict but a managed one and Pakistan now has come to realise that this is what is needed.
"Despite the terror and despite everything, in the present conjecture many opportunities do exist, as there is a realisation that this is the way forward," she said.
Jalal, the author of "The struggle for Pakistan: a Muslim homeland and global politics" also said the judiciary's steady assertiveness will ensure that the military will chose not to intervene directly.
"But that doesn't mean the military will not be the dominant institution. It will change only after decades of uninterrupted parliamentary government.
"The state institutions are so fragmented because of years of authoritarianism, nepotism and political interference that the break in the institutions' ethos, until that is restored, it would be difficult to ensure a proper delivery system. That is why I say Pakistan needs to be given time," she said.
Jalal also expressed displeasure about Pakistan being called a "failed state".
"I also want to ask about the narrative about Pakistan being a failed state. A failed state by whose standard, by the western standard, by India's standard? I don't think this is a useful categorisation," she said.
Jalal asserted that the Dec 16 Peshawar school attack has made the authorities intensify the fight against terrorism and called for re-imposing the moratorium on the death penalty, that was lifted after the massacre that claimed the lives of 145 people, the majority of them children.
Pakistan Flood: Manchar, the largest lake in Pakistan, is in spate, many villagers trapped
The situation is already bad due to the floods in Pakistan. At the same time, Pakistan's largest
559 ceasefire violations on IB since June 2014
New Delhi, Feb 24 (IANS) There have been 559 ceasefire violations along the international borde
PM Narendra Modi has said that in this era of global instability, India has established itself as
Petrol Diesel Price: Oil companies have released the prices of petrol and diesel for today. Today
GNLF leader Subash Ghising dead
New Delhi, Jan 29 (IANS) Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) leader Subash Ghising Thursda
On Tuesday, the figure of corona patients crossed 19 lakhs. For the 7th time, in just two days, o
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Paraguay's President Santiago Pena Pal
For three years, many variants of the coronavirus and their mixed sub-variants are coming out. Re
Manjhi seeks secret ballot to prove majority
Patna, Feb 9 (IANS) Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi Monday said he was ready to prove his
From drones to jets, why is China showing the world its arsenal of powerful weapons?
China showed the world a tremendous arsenal of its new weapons at the International Air Show on T