Former Singapore ambassador Bilahari Kausikan has said Pakistan's recent diplomatic successes have done little to address the country's deep-rooted internal challenges, describing the nation as being on the verge of failure and arguing that its biggest problems stem from domestic governance rather than neighbouring countries.
Speaking at a global conference, Kausikan acknowledged Pakistan's diplomatic role during the recent US-Iran conflict, saying it had helped improve Islamabad's standing in Washington. When asked where he saw Pakistan in the next five years, he delivered a stark assessment of the country's future.
Referring to Pakistan's role in the Iran conflict, Kausikan said, "Pakistan was very agile, and very successful in taking advantage of a diplomatic opportunity. And that has gone some way to rehabilitate Pakistan diplomatically in the eyes of the US."
He was quick to draw a distinction between diplomatic achievements and the country's economic realities, adding, "But you know, that doesn't feed the Pakistani people."
Pakistan played a key role in facilitating the interim peace framework signed between the United States and Iran last month. Despite that diplomatic breakthrough, the country continues to grapple with economic difficulties and remains heavily dependent on financial assistance from international institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF. According to a report by The Dawn, Pakistan is also among the world's 10 countries facing an acute food crisis.
Kausikan argued that these structural challenges outweigh any gains achieved through diplomacy, describing Pakistan as "a state teetering on the brink of failure."
"It hasn't quite fallen over, for which we all should be grateful. The diplomatic success doesn't change that fundamental reality. I don't think the US is going to lift whatever restrictions in totality it has on Pakistan," he further said.
Earlier this year, the administration of US President Donald Trump indefinitely suspended the processing of immigrant visas for Pakistani nationals.
During the discussion, a Pakistani journalist suggested that Islamabad's difficulties were largely the result of its geographical location and its borders with India and Afghanistan. Kausikan rejected that argument outright.
"You cannot blame location on everything. That's an excuse," Kausikan said.
Instead, he placed responsibility squarely on Pakistan's political leadership and military establishment.
"Pakistan has been mismanaged terribly since the beginning. I don't see any solution. Its politicians are a waste of time, all of them, regardless of parties, and the military is a big part of the problem," he said.
Pakistan has spent nearly half of its history under direct military rule, while the armed forces have continued to wield significant influence over civilian governments even during periods of democratic administration.
