Pakistan, a failed state: Noam Chomsky

Noted philosopher and political activist Noam Chomsky said Pakistan was a "paradigm example of a failed state" that had undergone an "extremely dangerous form of radical Islamisation."

The country was now in danger of "collapsing" as it grappled with rebellion, militancy and extremism that was "getting worse" and the assassination last month of former premier Benazir Bhutto might increase unrest in Sindh, Chomsky said in an interview.

Asked to draw a parallel between the situation in Pakistan and the characteristics of a failed state highlighted in his book "Failed States", Chomsky said, "I am afraid to say Pakistan is the paradigm example of a failed state and has been for a long time. It has had military rule, violence and oppression."

Since the 1980s, the country had undergone an extremely dangerous form of radical Islamisation, which had undermined a good part of the society, under the Zia-ul-Haq tyranny, he said.

"Now it is in danger of collapsing, there is a rebellion in Balochistan, the (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) territories are out of control and always have been -- and it is getting worse. It is possible that the Bhutto assassination might increase the severe unrest in Sindh, where there has been plenty of oppression, and this may lead to another secessionist movement, " he said.

Recent surveys had shown that the Pakistani people were "in favour of democracy, possibly with an Islamic flavour" but "those hopes are not even near being realised in the existing political and social system", Chomsky said.

Asked about solutions for Pakistan to become a true democracy, Chomsky felt democracy could be achieved only by "developing political and social arrangements in which the population can actually determine effective policy".

Chomsky, a fierce critic of American foreign policy, pointed out that Pakistan's alliance with the US "has been quite harmful throughout its history".

He said: "The US has tried to convert Pakistan into its highly militarised ally and has supported its military dictatorship.

"The Reagan administration strongly supported the Zia-ul-Haq tyranny, which had a very harmful affect on Pakistan, and the Reagan administration even pretended they didn't know that Pakistan was developing nuclear weapons.

"Of course they knew, but they had to pretend they did not, so that Congress would continue to fund their support for Pakistan, for the army, and for the ISI, all part of their support for the mujahideen in Afghanistan, which was not intended to help the Afghans."

While pointing out that Pakistan could become a true democracy, Chomsky said the country could move to the level of India. "I mean there is a lot wrong with India, horrible things in India, but it is more or less a functioning democracy. Pakistan could move to that level, but, I think, it has to disentangle itself from the domination from the US.

"Right now the US is supporting (President Pervez) Musharraf - is that a way to democracy?" he asked.

Asked if democracy in Pakistan with an Islamic flavour would be acceptable to its Western allies, Chomsky replied: "It does not matter if it is acceptable to the Western countries, what matters is what is acceptable to Pakistanis. The Western countries would like to rule the world, but they have no authority to do that."