By Nusrat Mirza
Pakistan’s journey to independence began with the dream of Muslims in the subcontinent who had ruled the region for approximately 850 years. However, in the 16th Century, the East India Company (EIC) of Britain entered India through Kolkata and eventually took control of the country under British rule in 1858, exploiting the unstable situation in India. Over the course of almost 200 years of British rule, Muslim systems were dismantled, and the Persian language was replaced with English.
Initially, there was strong resistance against learning English among Muslims, but Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s establishment of an English school in Aligarh, which later became a university, gradually changed this perspective. On the other hand, the Hindu community, which had resisted the influence of Buddhism and Islam by isolating itself, aligned with English rule, viewing Muslims as enemies.
The Muslim leaders officially accepted British Raj in 1906 after 48 years of resistance. They met with the then Viceroy Lord Minto in Shimla under the leadership of Sir Agha Khan and secured certain conditions, such as maintaining administrative participation in Bengal and having a separate electoral system for Muslims in local bodies, as well as representation in the British judiciary and power structure of India.
Pakistan’s journey towards independence reached a crucial turning point when a resolution for Pakistan’s independence was passed on 23rd March 1940 in Lahore, where Minar-e-Pakistan now stands. Pakistan finally gained independence on 14th August 1947, but it faced significant challenges with limited resources, and there was mass migration from India, resulting in the loss of many lives and widespread suffering.
In the 1960s, during the formulation of Pakistan’s first five-year plan, the country experienced rapid economic growth and was on the path to becoming an industrialized nation. Pakistan also made significant advancements in defense and space research, launching about 200 rockets into space, making it the only Asian country to do so at that time. However, despite its potential for progress, foreign interferences and the policies of so-called friendly nations hindered Pakistan’s development.
According to the book “No Exit From Pakistan: America’s Tortured Relationship with Islamabad” by Daniel Markey, the relationship between the United States and Pakistan has been fraught with frustrations and disagreements, likened to the characters in Jean-Paul Sartre’s play “No Exit” tormenting each other in hell. Both sides have felt wronged and struggled to establish strong and sustainable cooperation.
Pakistan believes that the United States seeks to become the sole superpower of the world, achieved with Pakistan’s assistance in defeating the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in 1989. However, the US subsequently abandoned Pakistan, leading to the proliferation of drug and Kalashnikov cultures and violence. The US involvement in Afghanistan in 1999 also created more problems for Pakistan. Interference in Pakistan and other countries appears to be a recurring aspect of US state policy.
Despite being blessed with abundant natural resources, Pakistan faces deep economic crises and serious questions about its administrative, political, judicial, and social structures and systems. Corruption has become rampant, and the elites, who played little to no role in the creation of Pakistan, now control the apparatus of power, benefiting themselves at the expense of pushing people under the line of poverty.
In brief, the primary objectives envisioned prior to the establishment of Pakistan aimed at ensuring justice for all and promoting a revival of Muslims in the region. Despite encountering challenging situations both domestically and internationally, the Pakistani nation has remained unwavering and resolute in pursuit of these goals.