Singapore. Former Singapore Ambassador Bilhari Kausikan has made sharp remarks about the current situation of Pakistan and its relevance. During a podcast interview, he cited the separation of Bangladesh in 1971 and raised the question as to how relevant is the original logic behind the formation of Pakistan as a separate homeland for the Muslims of South Asia. During this time, he also raised questions about the soldiers in the Pakistani Army being allowed to keep beards.
Kausikan said Pakistan was founded as a homeland for the Muslims of South Asia, but after the separation of Bangladesh in 1971, its basic foundation came into question. He said, “Pakistan was founded as a homeland for the Muslims of South Asia. But as soon as Bangladesh separated from it in 1971, that very logic ended. So what is Pakistan today? Only that it is not India?”
'It is the army that holds Pakistan together'
Commenting on Pakistan Army, Kausikan said that there has been a big ideological change within it in the last few years. Criticizing the Pakistani Army led by General Asim Munir, he said that at present the army is the main institution that holds the country together.
He said, “The only institution that holds Pakistan together in today's situation is its army. But this army, which was once secular, has now become a religious army.”
Referring to the permission to grow beards in the Pakistani Army, Kausikan quipped, “When any army starts allowing its soldiers to grow beards, then understand that it is in trouble.”
Pakistan in the eyes of the world because of nuclear weapons
Kausikan also commented on the economic and political situation of Pakistan. He said that Pakistan constantly stands on the verge of failure, but does not collapse completely. He also questioned Pakistan's efforts to maintain its diplomatic relevance through ties with Saudi Arabia.
He said that even when Saudi Arabia was attacked by Houthi rebels, Saudi Arabia did not call Pakistan for help. According to him, a major reason for Pakistan's global relevance is its being a nuclear weapons country.
Kausikan had earlier also warned about Pakistan. He had said, “If Pakistan does not solve its problems, it will always stand on the verge of failure. Everyone cares about it only because it has nuclear weapons. If Pakistan did not have nuclear weapons, no one would care about it.”