by Lukas F. S treiff (‘ 0 6) + J ulia C ohen (‘ 10) Lukas F. Streiff is a Master of Public Policy Candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, focusing on security and energy policy. In 2009, he spent two months in Pakistan as a Visiting Research Associate at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, conducting research on the geopolitics of energy in the region. Julia Cohen is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, and majors in PPE (International Relations) and Hispanic Studies.
Pakistan’s Gas Crisis:
Pakistan’s economic woes lie at the center of the fight against jihadist radicalism.
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S PRIN G 2 0 1 0
Pipe Dreams & Empty Pipes W hile the spotlight of global media
So many pipes, so little gas
centers
struggle
Pakistan’s economic woes lie at the center of
with fundamentalist insurgency,
the fight against jihadist radicalism – a fact that
few observers in the West grasp the complex
the Obama administration is keenly aware of:
pattern of factors that underlies the country’s
the United States will pour $7.5 billion of non-
instability. The Taliban and other radicals in
military aid into Pakistan in the coming five
the rugged Afghan borderland are by far
years alone. Yet, some of the highest barriers
the most visible threat, but they are not the
to economic progress in Pakistan cannot be
source of Pakistan’s instability. Never have they
solved by money alone.
on
Pakistan’s
influenced the affairs of the Pakistani heartland
Take the electricity crisis: for decades,
– in fact, the relationship is the inverse. The
industry analysts have urged Pakistan to put a
Pakistani Taliban are an outgrowth of radical
sensible strategy for investments in electricity
Sunni networks in the political and economic
generation on track, but one government after
heartland of Pakistan: the Punjab, Pakistan’s
another has insisted on starting from scratch,
most prosperous and industrious province.
only to outdo its predecessor in corruption and
Radical groups in the prosperous
mind-boggling mismanagement. The result:
population centers have supported the Taliban
electricity is rationed all over Pakistan, often
in the border regions, and they have attracted
for over half of the day. “Load-shedding”, as
ever more supporters and funds. This country
the government terms the loathed practice,
of 160 million has failed the people’s hopes for
has caused hundreds of thousands of layoffs in
better governance and a prosperous future for
industry and countless violent demonstrations.
decades . There is no doubt that this subtle slide
With no end to the electricity crisis in sight,
into desperation goes a long way to explain the
Pakistan is now facing yet another serious
increasing instability of politics and society.
energy crisis: the state is unable to provide