Pakistan at the Crossroads

The Forum for Strategic and Security Studies (FSSS) undertook a study of Pakistan with the aim of assessing its future options in the context of its relations with India. The study was to evaluate its road map in the areas of foreign relations, domestic situation, terrorism, economy, nuclear power and the Armed Forces. This book is the outcome of that study. Pakistan’s foreign policy was examined from its inception with regard to its objectives and major actors who contributed to its formulation. This provided an insight into the present trends. The Agra Summit was derailed by Pakistan’s obsessive attitude with J&K. Post 9/11, the entire strategic scenario of the region altered. Suddenly Pakistan realised that terrorism was no longer a viable option. Overnight, it gave up its own creation, the Taliban and joined the US led coalition in the war against terrorism. While this helped to remove Pakistan’s isolation in the short term, the war in Afghanistan resulted in wiping out the Taliban and with it finished the Pakistani dream of "strategic depth" in Afghanistan. The internal politics shows how progressively the islamization of Pakistan took place and with it the destruction of democracy. The role and grip of the Army and ISI over political apparatus culminated in the rise of jihadi fundamentalism and terrorism. So great has been the power of the Pakistani army, that it initiated the Kargil misadventure, because the Lahore Declaration that could pave the way for friendly relations, was unacceptable to it. The essays on the Pakistani Army, Navy and Air Force trace their evolution from a historical perspective; examine their strategy in previous wars and future conflict, as well as their likely shape and size in the years ahead.Pakistan’s economy has been examined with its few inherent strengths and weaknesses. Despite the windfall due to aligning itself with the US, essentially the basic parameters of Pakistan’s economy have continued to deteriorate due to lack of absorptive capacity, infrastructure and governance. Pakistan’s quest for nuclear weapons has been well documented in the book.