THE world is changing faster than we can comprehend, yet our political imagination remains trapped in the ruins of obsolete narratives.

Nations that adapt survive; those that cling to expired myths fade into irrelevance. Pakistan today stands at such a crossroads. For decades, our ‘national interests’ have been defined by paranoia, insecurity and preservation of the past rather than preparation for the future. The time has come to redefine what truly serves the people of Pakistan, to construct new national interests that are rational, forward-looking, and rooted in peace, equality and governance reform.

The first step is to shed the emotional rigidity of the past. The Kashmir conflict, for example, has drained generations of political, diplomatic, and moral energy without producing progress or peace. A bold rethinking, accepting the Line of Control as the international bordercould transform South Asia’s political map from one of perpetual hostility to one of shared prosperity. It would free resources, mindsand policies to focus on education, development, and social welfare rather than on endless confrontation.

A new federal vision must accompany this shift. Pakistan’s federation, as currently structured, is a relic of centralized control that neither represents its diversity nor distributes its resources justly. Integrating Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan as full provinceswith representation in both the National Assembly and Senate would not only complete the federation........

© Pakistan Observer