Few have said this, but those who have lived in both countries long enough will agree: Pakistanis and Americans share many similarities of character. Both nations are fiercely independent and value freedom, self-respect and national dignity. Unlike many in Europe, Americans still largely have a frontier spirit, trusting themselves and their own capabilities above all else. Pakistanis are no different.
The people of Pakistan, like their American counterparts, have always valued choice. In contrast to Far-East Asian or Middle Eastern countries that have essentially had single-party systems, Pakistan is and has always been different. The current multi-party democratic system, with an outgoing government that has successfully completed its five-year term, surrounded by allied and opposition parties representing every ideology and sphere of thought, represents a vibrant and open ecosystem. Yes, there is chaos on occasion, incompetence as well, rumors of corruption and real corruption too. But it is a multi-party democracy at the end of the day, and closer to the American political system than Saudi Arabia’s, China’s, Russia’s or even that of a moderate Middle Eastern monarchy such as Jordan. Interestingly, while Pakistan’s chequered political history has had its share of military governments, none have so far outlasted the term due to a twice-elected parliament. And many might suggest that at the time of their ascent to power, the vast majority of Pakistanis probably supported Generals Ayub, Zia and Musharraf. Even the mighty army has been dependent on the people for support when in government. Perhaps this might also explain why there has never been a bloody coup in Pakistan and why a 30 or 40 year dictatorial reign a la Libya, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia or Iraq has proved impossible for anyone to pull off. Given the political and societal developments that have taken place in Pakistan over the past decade, most observers of and participants in Pakistan’s politics feel that the era of non-democratic interventions is gone for good.
Pakistani media, like the media in the US, despite all its shortcomings, is an incredibly empowered and free platform for opinion. If that engenders a reaction of disbelief for those not familiar with Pakistan, all you have to do is to tune in to one of over a 100 Pakistani channels to hear every opinion across the political spectrum. You will find those who verge on abuse of the present government, to those who passionately defend it. Those who criticise the Pakistani military establishment — no holds barred — and those that find fault with American foreign policy. Cross-dressers employing the instrument of farce to interview celebrities and politicians, and journalists who question the fundamental ideological underpinnings of the nation state that is Pakistan. No issue is absent from the print and news media of Pakistan; ISI, Zardari, Balochistan, America, Islam, democracy or India. There are hardly any holy cows now, just as there are hardly any for media in the US.
This can cut both ways, but both Pakistanis and Americans must realise that what they have in common in the character of the platforms that support their public discourse is far more important than the current opinions being voiced through them. What is similar, in essence, is the free, open process of political and social discussion. Over time, this is a far more important indicator of shared values than agreement on an issue or two in the short term.
Free enterprise, entrepreneurship and the freedom to engage in private commerce is what made America great and what many in Pakistan admire deeply. Today, these values are also taking root in the Pakistani business environment. The fundamental tenets of private ownership, capitalism and open trade are shared articles of faith between Americans and Pakistanis. For the past 25 years Pakistani governments representing all major national political parties have been privatising state-owned industry. Despite criticism from some quarters, such as those who admire China’s socialist model, there has been an unrelenting surge toward empowering the private business person. It is no surprise that the richest Pakistani, Mansha Yahya, listed on Forbes’ famed roster of the world’s wealthy, runs a bank much like the scion of American capitalism, John Pierpont Morgan did. Pakistan, like the US, and in contrast to many other Asian and Middle Eastern countries, allows full foreign ownership of local businesses as well as land. Perhaps more strikingly, all of the profits of a business operating in Pakistan can be repatriated to any part of the world.
Where it really matters, in the sphere of business and commerce, Pakistan is trying to emulate US practices. Its government is doing so in a somewhat slow, somewhat incompetent way, but the private sector in a far more definite and motivated manner. Yes, Pakistan may be at a stage in evolving its privately-owned industry similar to where America was in the early part of the 20th century, but it is following the same principles and adheres to the same beliefs. Business shapes society over the long run, and to the extent that the US and Pakistan enable the same types of freedom in doing business, they mold their societies in a similar fashion.
And finally, there is an unending list of cultural similarities between the two countries. Americans, perhaps reflecting the vastness and generosity of the North American landscape, tend to be warm, large hearted and welcoming. These attributes exist in legendary measure in Pakistani society too. Modern-day Pakistan, once part of the ancient Silk route and a part of many of the Great Empires of days gone by, is a melting pot of peoples as diverse as the Greek Kaafirs who live in the Kalash valley in the north, the Makranis of African descent who live in the south, the famed lost tribe of Israel that may now be part of the tribal Pashtuns, the Arabs, Persians, Turks and Mongols who in settled the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, and many other local races and nations. Modern-day America is, in much the same way, a nation state that is home to many different ethnicities and nationalities. This is a rare trait for two countries to share, as most nation states today are comprised of a very small number of ethnicities, or by groups that are very closely related. Take China as a counter example, the largest country in the world, where 92 percent of the population shares a single ethnicity.
For these reasons and more, Pakistan and the US may be far more alike in deep, meaningful ways than many in the mainstream media perceive or will have you believe. Opinions held by one group of people about another are transient and do change. That is why Native Americans, who were considered the Godless enemy 200 years ago, now enjoy special protections under Federal law in the US. Or why Hispanics, with whom battles were fought in Texas, are now a major part of American society and the fastest growing ethnicity. Therefore, in the context of the US-Pakistan relationship, it is perhaps best to ignore spot opinion polls and evaluate the fundamental character of both societies. The conclusion one arrives at is that the Pakistan and US of the future can look more alike than different, with shared values, common beliefs and a similar vision of freedom, openness, tolerance and prosperity for their people.
The writer is an inventor and technology entrepreneur involved with businesses in the US and Pakistan