Why strategic pragmatism?

Express Tribune

10-02-2025

Why does Pakistan lack strategic pragmatism? And how can the country deal with the serious domestic and foreign policy challenges coming up in 2025? If there is an absence of a culture of seeking pragmatic solutions to contentious issues, those who wield power come up with superficial narratives to deal with economic, political, security, environmental and governance challenges, only to result in perpetuation of the challenges.
According to AI overview, "Strategic pragmatism is a problem-solving approach that combines analytical thinking with a focus on practicality. It can be applied to business, foreign policy, and other areas."
Talking of strategic pragmatism in the military sense, famous Prussian general and strategist Carl Von Clausewitz says, "War is a continuation of politics by other means." To Clausewitz, war is actually a way to achieve political goals.
Strategic pragmatism evolves in a society that is educated, enlightened and visionary; where there is a culture of path-breaking research; and where policymakers are focused on human development. On the contrary, a retrogressive society - one that is devoid of a forward-looking approach - only tends to perpetuate the prevailing crises.
State, meanwhile, is equally responsible for developing and strengthening the culture of strategic pragmatism because it has the power and resources to ensure welfare and security for the people. However, if a state is corrupt and inefficient and tends to maximise its power at the expense of the people, the country is doomed to fail.
There are countless examples to prove that a leadership with strategic pragmatism is able to pull the country out of the crises like poverty, backwardness and human insecurity. Countries like Bangladesh, India, South Korea, Malaysia and the Gulf states were able to overcome issues which impeded their progress and development. Several countries that lagged far behind Pakistan in socio-economic realms are now progressing because their leadership focused on human and social development instead of getting involved in corruption, nepotism and political witch-hunting. Power elites are mainly responsible for the absence of a culture of strategic pragmatism in the Pakistani society.
When India was behind Pakistan in terms of per capita income, economic growth and exchange rate, the state of India was focusing on building heavy industries and modernising infrastructure - and not on promoting a culture of affluence and extravaganza. Now, India is the world's fifth largest economy, boasting a GDP of 4.6 trillion dollars, economic growth rate of 6% and foreign exchange reserves exceeding 700 billion dollars. This economic success is a result of strategic pragmatism based on a rational and realistic decision-making mechanism. Same is the case with the UAE which, at the time of its independence from Britain in 1971, lagged far behind Pakistan in all walks of life, but its leadership focused on innovation, modernisation, good governance and rule of law to become a First World nation. UAE's national flag career, Emirates, was raised by PIA. While the former is a leading airline of the world now, the latter is struggling to stay afloat. Luring foreign investors and formulating policies based on sound work ethics transformed the UAE from an impoverished country to a rich and modern state.
Singapore is also a case in point. The city state which - at the time of its separation from Malaysia in 1965 - was backward and poor, managed to strengthen its economy thanks to the leadership of Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yu. Now Singapore is considered a role model for economic development, modern infrastructure, rule of law and good governance. Its per capita income, GDP, exports and foreign exchange reserves are far higher than Pakistan's. When Lee Kuan Yu utilised the tools of strategic pragmatism, Singapore moved on and achieved miraculous success. Germany and Japan which were destroyed during WWII also excelled because the leadership of the two countries pursued policies strategically which transformed them into the world's second and third largest economies respectively.
Why strategic pragmatism is essential for Pakistan and how the ruling elites can move in that direction need to be analysed from three angles.
1) With merely 11.3 billion dollars worth of foreign exchange reserves, economic growth rate at 2%, per capita income of 1450 dollars and exports of barely 30 billion dollars, Pakistan is struggling to manage its economy. Though inflation has come down, the power and gas tariffs as well as petrol prices are still very high, housing is still unaffordable, and many an essential is still out of the reach of common man. The middle class is shrinking and income disparity between rich and poor is widening with each passing day. Over 40 per cent of the population is already languishing below the poverty line. The economy is dependent on loans from IMF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other multilateral institutions, besides friendly countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE and China. All this goes to show that no strategic or pragmatic approach is being adopted by the policymakers to fix the economy. Instead of pursing a policy of self-reliance and taking steps to maximise exports and attract foreign investment, our economic czars are adopting shortcuts, like seeking loans, in order to meet the budgetary deficit.
2) Strategic pragmatism cannot be adopted in Pakistan unless hardwork, intelligence and integrity are promoted at the state and society level. If the culture of inefficiency, corruption and nepotism has endorsement from state and society, Pakistan can never emerge as a successful state featuring a vibrant economy, modern infrastructure, independent foreign policy, good governance and rule of law.
2) Karachi is a case study to understand the relevance of strategic pragmatism. The 30 million strong mega city shares 65% to the total revenue collection in the country, but it continues to struggle in terms of civic infrastructure and law and order. When Karachi has been left at the mercy of mafias and when vital issues related to water supply, street crime, education, waste disposal, environmental pollution and unemployment remain unresolved, the outcome is further degeneration.
There is no way Pakistan or its biggest city Karachi can progress and prosper unless state power and resources are utilised for the benefit of citizens rather than for vested interests. Conserving water, energy and food resources alongside mitigating corruption and nepotism will go a long way in ensuring economic vibrancy, political stability, good governance and rule of law.