Pakistan was declared an independent state on August 14, 1947. The division of India was a consequence of increasing tension between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League. The partition led to millions of refugees pouring across the new borders. At least half a million people, most of them Moslems, were killed. Pakistan was originally a divided state consisting of West Pakistan and East Pakistan. After the 1971 war between Pakistan and India, East Pakistan became the independent state of Bangladesh.
Conflicts with India remain, largely focused on Kashmir, which is divided between the two countries. Both have conducted tests of nuclear weapons, and war has sometimes threatened. But constructive talks are underway.
General Pervez Musharraf took power in a coup in 1999, and since then Pakistan has been a military dictatorship. The world’s view of Pakistan has in recent years been influenced by its closeness to Afghanistan and the country has been identified as a base for terrorists. After the September 11th attacks in the United States, General Musharraff gave in to American demands and many suspected terrorists were imprisoned.
The increasing American influence in the country has led to Islamic extremists carrying out attacks on the Christian minority. Several undemocratic elections have been held during Musharraf’s reign, and before the 2002 elections the constitution was rewritten to give him almost unlimited power.
In October 2005 Pakistan was struck by the worst earthquake it had experienced in a century, with many thousand lives lost. The numbers are uncertain, but the disaster probably claimed between 50,000 and 100,000 lives. The earthquake struck a large and nearly inaccessible region, mostly in Pakistani Kashmir, in the northern part of the country.
Analysis
Pakistan's military regime was completely unprepared for the destruction caused by the earthquake, and it took a long time for aid to reach the region. Support for Islamists has increased in the area since their aid arrived before the government’s. Help from the rest of the world has been less than the massive aid to the countries affected by the 2004 tsunami. India offered assistance, which was first rejected because of the old conflict over Kashmir.
Pakistan has become an intolerant and violent state. There is political disunity, ethnic and religious conflicts, and deep divisions between rich and poor. Martial law and military coups have succeeded each other. There is a ban on political activities and official press censorship, as well as self-censorship by the newspapers to avoid conflicts with the government.
The military often uses excessive violence against demonstrations protesting violations of human rights. Politically inconvenient people are imprisoned, the leaders of the Palme Center’s partner organisation the Labour Education Foundation have been jailed periodically when they demanded free and democratic elections or demonstrated for freedom of expression.
It is difficult for non-government organisations to register their names and activities. When they do succeed, they are monitored by the authorities and security police.
After testing several nuclear weapons in 1998, in response to Indian nuclear tests, international economic sanctions were imposed on Pakistan, which led to a drastic deterioration of the economy. The sanctions ended in 2001 when Pakistan joined the struggle against international terrorism. Corruption is extensive and to a large degree the country is run under a feudal system, as a small number of family clans control the economy, politics, and the military.
There are several kinds of trade union organisations, some clearly leftist. Their biggest problem is the increased privatisation of the public sector and state-owned companies. Child labour and bonded labour are common and violate a number of ILO conventions and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. UNICEF estimates that ten million Pakistani children are forced to contribute to supporting their families.
Families and clans have strong bonds. Women live under severe social control, which contributes to a lack of equality as well as political difficulties when women pursue more independent lives. Violence against women and religious minorities is a widespread and increasing problem.
Development Co-operation
The Palme Center’s activities in Pakistan have increased in recent years. To influence and change a feudal system it is necessary to co-ordinate different activities and different methods. The Palme Center and is member organisations combine popular education, peace campaigns, and labour and political activities. The overall goal is to increase understanding for peace, democracy, and the importance of organising civil society.
After the devastating earthquake foreign assistance to Pakistan has been dominated by relief and reconstruction. The Citizens Relief Committee, CRC, which includes several of the Palme Center's partner organisations, was quickly organised. The CRC has concentrated its work on a difficult-to-reach region in Kashmir where there are 38 villages. This cooperation rests on democratic principles, and 23 local committees have been organised, to evaluate what people in the area need, and how aid should be allocated.
Activities are concentrated around the Labour Education Foundation, which supports training programs, printing, and trade union organising. One of these projects has been with carpet-makers, who now have a vigorous trade union. The project started with clippers and washers, who are usually men. Now it is the turn of the weavers, who are women, which increases the potential of involvement by women.
Long term influence requires political change. The Social Democrat Party has contacts with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). The Palme Center’s projects also include contact with a smaller party, Labour Party Pakistan.
The Palme Center has also given support to the organisation Peaceful Pakistan, which provides training in peace campaigning, for example to counteract conflict with India over Kashmir. In co-operation with the member organisations democracy campaigns and labour organising are supported through Democratic Pakistan. Projects are aimed at both union representatives and student groups at a number of universities.