The Cost of Ignoring the Truth

Article by: Ali Afridi

What pushes nations to the brink? It’s a combination of neglect, corruption, and incompetence. Imagine a leader surrounded by flatterers who tell them they’ve saved the country from disaster. The leader, puffed up with false confidence, looks around triumphantly, seeking more praise. Meanwhile, the flatterers hope for rewards, and the country inches closer to collapse. Sadly, this has been Pakistan’s story since the beginning. Flattery, hypocrisy, and servitude have become so common that people will abandon their morals just to gain personal favors. As a result, the vast majority of Pakistanis suffer while tiny elite enjoys luxury.

In developed countries, flattery is seen as disgraceful and is often shut down. Those societies thrive on values like honesty and integrity, instilled from a young age. But in South Asia, servility has been part of the culture for centuries, and it’s one of the reasons this resource-rich region was colonized for so long. Even after independence in 1947, the same mindset lingers. Leaders swear loyalty to foreign powers, stash their wealth abroad, and leave the country to face the consequences.

Countries don’t collapse overnight. It happens when governments fail to meet the needs of their people, avoid tough decisions, and crush protests instead of addressing problems. Over time, dissatisfaction grows, and the state becomes weaker. The term brinkmanship refers to pushing situations to the edge of disaster, whether its international relations or domestic issues like political disputes or protests. In Pakistan, the lack of freedom where institutions funded by the public operate with unchecked power means people live in constant fear, unable to express themselves or demand change.

The Fragile States Index (FSI), compiled by the U.S.-based Fund for Peace, ranks countries based on factors like weak governance, lack of services, corruption, and economic decline. In 2024, Pakistan ranked 27th out of 179 countries, just above Uganda and below Eritrea. The most fragile states, like Somalia, South Sudan, and Syria, have already descended into chaos. Meanwhile, countries like Pakistan, Argentina, and Egypt remain dangerously close to that fate.

These rankings should be a wake-up call for every patriotic Pakistani. The country has been exploited to the point of collapse. If we don’t acknowledge the reality of poor governance and the denial of basic issues, we will remain vulnerable to external forces. While the world is on the verge of a massive conflict, Pakistan’s focus must be on fixing its internal divisions and improving the lives of its people. A divided house cannot stand, and presenting ourselves as one only makes us prey for others.