Dr. Abdus Salam, Nobel Laureate in physics, 1979

Source: Business Recorder, Pakistan’s Premier Financial Daily

By Dr. Maqsudul Hasan Nuri: The writer is presently Head of Department of International Relations, NUML, and former Adviser at COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad

Is Pakistan experiencing a whiff of educational opening up and acknowledgement of its soft power potential? Or is it too naive or early to say so: after all, one swallow does not make a full summer. Nawaz Sharif government, contrary to a long held view, has seemingly taken a sensible decision in reinstating Professor Dr. Abdus Salam, the illustrious but forgotten Nobel laureate of Pakistan by renaming Centre of Excellence in Physics in Quaid-e-Azam University as Abdus Salam Centre of Physics.

What impulses worked in the last 34 years for the obdurate stand taken by governments in not honouring the son of the soil and world-renowned Nobel Prize scientist? As a founder and incubator of scores of scientific organisations his name is inextricably woven with promotion of science and scientific community in Pakistan and the Third world.

Was it fear of the ultra-right clergy since he was an Ahmadi, or political expediencies, or sheer dismissive attitude towards culture, science and education? Why this decision has been taken after a hiatus of almost over three decades in reinstating the departed scientist? We may not know the undercurrents: perhaps it is combination of many vectors: the fatal blows inflicted on major terrorist groups by Pakistan army while hounding them across the borders; increasing concern over Pakistan’s quasi-isolation; need for regional connectivity in light of ongoing CPEC; lagging abysmally behind science and higher education; reinvigorating anemic economy, and desire for burnishing Pakistan’s credentials through employment of soft power assets. Additionally, the new army chief and his predilection and composition of team reflect prioritizing national harmony and development that may have weighed in. If these factors have swayed prime minister’s decision it is indeed a healthy trend.

With time it is being increasingly felt that composite power of a nation is the sum total of its soft as well as hard power assets. While hard power comprising military cornucopia is essential for defence in a tough neighbourhood like ours, soft power is vital to leverage and undo quasi-isolation in facilitating foreign policy goals; improve regional connectivity; attract investments; infuse national dignity and engender International goodwill.

Pakistan demonstrated its soft power in the 1960s and 1970s until it was faced with the monster of bigotry and violence after being sucked into the Afghan war. Many Islamic states like Turkey and Malaysia, despite problems, have earned soft and hard power status are doing relatively well in the comity of nations.

Pakistan foreign policy mandarins devalued soft image or its cultural strength with skewed priorities. Support to hard line non-state actors, inside and outside, ostensibly for perpetuation of rule by political and military leaders, poor border control and influx of refugees progressively eroded the writ of the state. A writer has termed ‘strategic depth’s ill-consequences as opposite to intended as militants and refugees intruded into every nook and corner of the country, especially big cities turning them into havens of crime, smuggling, arms and terrorism.

Are we more secure in 2016 than in 1998 despite the seventh largest army and nuclear weapons, one may ask? Yes and no. Foreign military aggressions like Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya may not take place under nuclear deterrence but internal chasms (provincial, ethnic and sectarian) could widen and lead to inner turmoil. Prospects of national unity are not encouraging. This is what anti-Pakistan forces are doing to exploit to the hilt.

A proud and vibrant nation always has historical and emotional memories to cherish: remember its past successes and failures, respect its heroes (men and women) who have attained national and global stature. Salam was one of them who brought laurels not only to Pakistan but Third World and Islamic world and strived for cause of science and education. Despite many honors received, he never relinquished his nationality and lies buried in Chanab Nagar (formerly Rabwa) in Punjab. After getting cold-shouldered he set up the international Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy, where many scientists from the Third World, including Pakistan, regularly receive training.

Without education, science and technology a nation remains stunted – becoming a breeding ground for illiteracy, bigotry, violence and terrorism. As elements of soft power, education, science and technology are a sine qua non. Give livelihood, make good schools, respect your educational icons and you take away the oxygen from militancy. Not only good schools and universities but tourism, art and literature, culture, sports, science and innovations are vital ingredients of soft power that can act as engines of national growth and development

In the 1960s, Pakistan had a softer international image among the Islamic world: PIA, universities, five year economic development plans, tourism, sports, reasonable inter-faith harmony. But over the last decades the national scene has taken an ugly turn: war in neighborhood creating negative consequences. On domestic scene, politics of ambush and ambition, deceit and disunion, salesmanship over statesmanship took root obfuscating the national priorities. No wonder, Pakistan’s indicators of education and development are not satisfactory; governance is poor, corruption high, inter-faith harmony sorely lacking and infighting common with people turning cynical or apathetic. Pakistan, according to many apologists, has survived trying and testing times and not faced near-collapse as some Middle Eastern countries; but this should not cause smug complacency. Survival is important but with dignity, honor and self-reliance. One cannot blame perennially geography and neighbors for one’s misfortunes. Nations radiate influence from their strategic location and not merely gloat over the physical location. Conspiracy theories do not wash away one’s sins of omission and commission. Lessons must be learnt from past history and mistakes soon rectified. Our schools, colleges and universities need syllabi major revamp.

Today, borders are still bristling with insecurity, southern Punjab is lurking with militant armed groups and sectarian outfits are challenging state authority; either the state connives or partners with them for ulterior motives. Pakistan’s youth bulge is growing day by day and any major investment or development plan will need qualified youth trained in science and technology.

Nations are respected for human rights, good governance, interfaith peace, democracy and honoring of distinguished people: writers, scientists, leaders who contribute to better life and society and make a strong middle class that leads to national stability and productivity. Pakistan had Edhi, Salam, Mahbubul Haq and Malala who won global acclaim and made the nation proud.

Soft power is an added adjunct to hard power and creates a sense of identity and pride in a nation. Its soldiers also fight better to protect the national values, culture and heritage. We have seen how Russian, British and German armies fought on battlefields when they were enthused by their national history, culture and traditions History, cultural monuments, ethnic languages, science and technologies, tourism — both entertainment and religious — not only instill national pride, raise national image but also earn hard currency for the country. China, our immediate neighbor and friend, whom we never tire of eulogizing is zealously promoting its panoply of soft power through Confucius Institutes, tourism, products, investments, building, infrastructure, universities and skilled diplomacy. We need to do the same. We hope that the CPEC would unleash enough soft power to initiate trade tourism, cultural exchanges and peaceful borders. It is said that where trade caravans start moving the armies do not cross borders. The armed forces have done a creditable job clearing the way for civil government to build upon its success and improve the latent soft power.

As heir to an old civilization, we need to develop these. It needs bold initiatives of building normal working relations with neighbors, regional connectivity, trade and investment EU, ASEAN and Latin Americans have done these after years of wars and carnage? Do we have to undergo the same sequence to learn the bitter lessons of history? Pakistan was supposed to be an Islamic welfare state as stated by the Founder of the Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and not a ‘garrison state’. The conspiracy theories force us not to look inwards and self-introspect but find enemies everywhere.

We need to respect our Salams, Edhis, Malalas and Mahbubul Haqs who have earned fame and acclaim for Pakistan. Foreign policy is, after all, an extension of domestic policies and combination of national tangible and intangible power. All grateful nations remember and honor their national icons and will ignore them at their own peril.