In an insightful piece, Tavleen Singh, a seasoned journalist, reflects on the volatile state of Pakistan’s democracy, which she describes as a "bonsai democracy"—stunted, underdeveloped, and perpetually at odds with the country's own aspirations for democratic maturity. Singh's commentary is especially poignant given the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, following the Pahalgam attack, and her assertion that Pakistan's military-led government often fails to recognize the deeper existential threats it faces.
Pakistan’s Military Rule and India’s Response to Terrorism
Pakistan's military establishment has frequently painted India as an “existential threat”, but Singh argues that it is the military’s authoritarian hold on power that truly poses the existential threat to Pakistan’s future. For years, Pakistan’s military has dominated the nation’s political landscape, hindering its democratic progress. Tavleen Singh highlights that Pakistan's obsession with Kashmir has not only failed to yield results but has led to endless violence, with terrorism spilling across borders into India.
The Pahalgam terrorist attack, where innocent civilians were brutally murdered, reignited longstanding frustrations in India. The Indian Army's military response was deemed a necessary action to protect the nation from the cross-border terrorism that continues to emanate from Pakistan. Singh is particularly scathing about Pakistan’s inability to confront its role in fostering terrorism, suggesting that its ideological commitment to Islamic extremism makes it a global pariah.
“What happened in Pahalgam was so awful, so calculatedly cruel that if some action had not been taken against the Islamist republic next door, every Indian would have been left enraged, ashamed, and feeling hopeless,” Singh writes, emphasizing the urgency of India’s retaliation.
Pakistan’s ‘Bonsai Democracy’ and the Need for Change
The crux of Singh’s argument is the stunted growth of Pakistan’s democracy under the firm grip of military rulers. She calls out Pakistan’s failure to transition into a stable democratic state and notes that its military rulers seem increasingly disconnected from the desires of the Pakistani populace, many of whom are ready for change.
Singh criticizes Pakistan’s leadership for being obsessed with Kashmir, a region that she suggests is unlikely to change its political status anytime soon. She mentions that the ideology of Pakistan has, over time, fostered extremism and allowed figures like Osama bin Laden to operate unchecked within Pakistan’s borders. This extremist ideology is not only a threat to Pakistan’s neighbors, but also to its own future.
“Pakistan’s obsession with Kashmir is unhealthy. Kashmir is going nowhere, and most sensible Pakistanis know this,” Singh reflects.
For Singh, it’s time for Pakistan’s political system to mature beyond military control and work towards genuine democratic development. Only by focusing on internal reform and moving away from military-led politics can Pakistan hope to overcome the political instability that plagues it.
The Global Perspective and the Pakistan-India War
Singh expresses her frustration with global leaders, particularly Donald Trump, who have downplayed the significance of the Pahalgam attack and the broader India-Pakistan conflict, reducing it to a “fight that has gone on for decades, maybe centuries.” She believes that this is a direct consequence of Pakistani propaganda, which seeks to obscure the true nature of its role in fomenting terror against India.
“The kind of monsters who can shoot husbands dead before their new brides and fathers in front of their children are those who subscribe to the ideology of Pakistan,” Singh asserts, referring to the Pahalgam atrocity.
Conclusion: Growing Roots for a Stronger Democracy
Singh’s article ultimately points out the root causes of the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict, which is not just about territorial disputes but a struggle for ideological and political dominance. She calls for Pakistan to move beyond its military dominance and work towards true democratic progress.
As Singh concludes, it is clear that Pakistan's "bonsai democracy" needs to grow deeper roots—not only to survive but to contribute to peace and stability in the region.