Friday, September 30, 2011

Thinking Out of Box

S. Akbar Zaidi, a political economist, takes stock of the US aid to Pakistan. His conclusion is that the main beneficiary of that has been Pakistani military. And if you combine it with the quotes like this:
While this ‘aid’ was not meant directly for Pakistan’s military, there is ample evidence that significant funds meant for the Afghan Mujahideen were pocketed by Pakistani officers.
then there is only one  conclusion that US aid has benefited neither people of Pakistan not its military. Thus Mr Zaidi concludes:
There is an urgent need to shift the relationship away from a myopic focus on the military towards a more productive use of aid. Such a shift might just strengthen democracy in Pakistan as well.
 Very laudable sentiments.
And can our friends from across the border think of in-dependency and self-sufficiency? Hardly.