
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.
Instagram's server stopped once again, Hi-Hello nothing is happening Send
Instagram Down: Instant messaging app Instagram is down once again. People are not able to send m
The first day-night match of the 3 ODI series between India and England is being played at the Ma
Spanish President Pedro Sanchez arrived in Vadodara, Gujarat on Monday morning on a three-day vis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Denmark on Tuesday, the second day of his three-day Europ
The number of corona infections in the country is increasing steadily. On Sunday, 18,650 new pati
On November 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad to inqui
24 institutes encroached on land in Odisha: Minister
Bhubaneswar, March 16 (IANS) The Odisha government has issued notice to 24 engineering and mana
Famous actor and director Manoj Kumar, known as 'Bharat Kumar' in the world of cinema, has passed
Modi invites suggestions on International Yoga Day
New Delhi, Jan 20 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday invited suggestions to mark the fi
The negligence of the police administration is coming to the fore in the death due to spurious li