Pakistan's Crisis Stems From Its Military, Not India: Former Singapore Envoy Says Islamabad 'On Brink Of Failure'

Last Updated:July 03, 2026, 14:43 IST

Kausikan blamed Pakistan's long-standing political and economic problems on poor governance and the military's influence in national affairs.

Former Singapore ambassador Bilahari Kausikan has blamed Pakistan’s military and political leadership for the country’s deepening crisis, saying its problems are self-inflicted and not the result of tensions with India or Afghanistan.

Speaking at a global conference, Kausikan said Pakistan’s recent diplomatic success in helping mediate the US-Iran conflict would do little to address its worsening economic and governance challenges.

Pakistan’s Problem Is Not India Or Afghanistan’

During the discussion, a Pakistani journalist suggested that the country’s challenges were largely linked to its geographical location and difficult relations with India and Afghanistan.

Rejecting the argument, Kausikan said Pakistan’s problems stem from its own governance rather than its neighbours.

“You cannot blame location on everything. That’s an excuse," he said.

Military, Political Leadership Under Fire

Kausikan blamed Pakistan’s long-standing political and economic problems on poor governance and the military’s influence in national affairs.

“Pakistan has been mismanaged terribly since the beginning. I don’t see any solution. Its politicians are a waste of time, all of them, regardless of parties, and the military is a big part of the problem," he said.

He added that Pakistan may have earned diplomatic goodwill by helping mediate the recent US-Iran conflict, but the achievement would not improve the lives of ordinary Pakistanis.

“Pakistan was very agile and very successful in taking advantage of a diplomatic opportunity. That has gone some way to rehabilitate Pakistan diplomatically in the eyes of the US. But that doesn’t feed the Pakistani people," he said.

‘State Teetering On The Brink Of Failure’

Asked where Pakistan could be over the next five years, Kausikan described it as “a state teetering on the brink of failure".

He said recent diplomatic gains would not change the country’s structural problems or significantly improve its ties with the United States.

“It hasn’t quite fallen over, for which we all should be grateful. The diplomatic success doesn’t change that fundamental reality. I don’t think the US is going to lift whatever restrictions in totality it has on Pakistan," he said.

Pakistan has recently drawn international attention for facilitating an interim peace framework between the US and Iran. Despite that, the country continues to face a severe economic crisis and remains dependent on financial assistance from institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. A recent report by Dawn also listed Pakistan among the countries facing an acute food crisis.

This ordering aligns much better with your chosen headline by leading with the “military, not India" angle before moving to the diplomatic context.

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Anushka Vats

Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can ...Read More

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