Pakistan choosing its new government through the democratic process is good news. But there are other worries that may not be good news for its neighbor India as the poll verdict amply indicates that even after adopting democracy, Pakistan’s military still dominates the scene. So, any chance of it taking action against terrorism is virtually ruled out. As a result, a good neighborly relation between India and Pakistan is next to impossible as the former had always stressed on action against terrorism before going wholeheartedly for dialogue to resolve contentious issues between the two countries.
Many are hoping for better relations between the two neighbors based on the electoral victory of cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan, who is slated to be the new prime minister of Pakistan. For long, Imran Khan had been one of the best ambassadors of Pakistan. He was known for his cricketing talents, leadership quality and, more importantly for his spirit of sportsmanship, as can be seen from his career as a cricketer that saw no question about his conduct in the field. After retiring from cricket, the Oxford-educated Imran Khan built a cancer hospital in Pakistan. Later his philanthropic activities propelled him into the political arena, establishing him among the top political leaders of the country.
Pakistan was being ruled either by the Bhutto or the Sharif families, for years. But both the families let down the people of Pakistan as they indulged in nepotism, and rampant corruption, which resulted in the country’s lack of development. So, with Nawaz Sharif going to jail on charges of corruption and the late Benazir Bhutto’s son, Bilabal Bhutto, still young, Imran Khan automatically became the best possible choice for the people of Pakistan.
But the leader who rarely took any wrong step in cricket made the mistake by taking the help of the army to win the election perhaps in a hurry to secure the seat of power. It can’t be denied that the Pakistani army had always played a dominant role even during civilian rule. No Pakistani politician could ascend to the throne without the blessings of the army. Similarly, it should also be pointed out that this time Imran Khan got an opportunity to challenge the hegemony of the army. Whether or not Imran Khan managed to change the course of Pakistan’s politics is altogether a different question. The person who was known for his courage and achieving the impossible decided against it. So when the campaign began, Imran Khan began to be regarded as the army’s choice for the post of prime minister.
Now it is almost certain that the former sportsperson shall be in no position to challenge the dominance of the military even before he takes oath. More worrying is the fact that his party could not manage majority. So for the survival of the government, Imran Khan shall have to depend on smaller parties and independent lawmakers who can be easily arm-twisted by the military. Thus, even before the next government steps in, the Pakistani army and the dubious ISI have already ensured that their authority remains unchallenged. This effectively means more trouble for India. Interestingly in his first speech after the results were declared, Imran Khan talked about resolving the Kashmir issue. But he didn’t assure that his government would prevent cross-border terrorism. So, nothing will be changed during the Imran tenure. Pakistan will remain as hostile as it was during other regimes.
