Where is Pakistan Headed?

As the sixth largest country in the world, with the second largest Muslim population and a nuclear arsenal, Pakistan’s geo-strategic importance is undeniable. For the U.S., Pakistan’s long term stability is a foreign policy priority. But many worry about the country’s future, particularly given that over the past decade, Pakistan has faced the worst forms of terrorism, which have weakened it internally.

Pakistan today finds itself facing a multitude of problems. In addition to terrorism, the country is confronted by weak governance, a looming economic crisis, recurrent political turmoil, a massive youth cohort lacking adequate future prospects, and an increasingly problematic relationship with the U.S. Yet, Pakistan has proved to be exceptionally resilient in the face of adversity in the past. Pakistan can also point to a return to a civilian government, impressive growth in the rural economies, re-initiation of the Pakistan-India dialogue, and a vibrant media as successes to build on.

What does all this mean for the future of Pakistan, for Pakistan’s role in South Asia, and for its importance to the U.S.? On November 18, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi, former Pakistani Ambassador to the U.S. and High Commissioner to the U.K. and editor of Pakistan: Beyond the Crisis State, gave a presentation parsing these questions through examination of Pakistan’s current state, and the key opportunities and threats the country faces in moving forward.

This event featured the following speakers:

Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi, panelist
former Pakistani Ambassador to the United States and Pakistan High Commissioner to the U.K.
Editor, Pakistan: Beyond the Crisis State