Why do simplistic solutions so often appeal to societies facing deeply complex problems? And why do they fail, often leaving behind more damage than before? Pakistan today offers a textbook case of this paradox, where both rulers and the ruled are trapped in a cycle of short-term fixes, political expediency and deferred institutional reforms.

At its core, a complex problem — whether corruption, poverty or terrorism — cannot be solved through a single, linear action. Such problems are multi-dimensional, shaped by interlocking social, political, economic and cultural forces. Quick fixes tend to address one symptom while ignoring the wider system. They also underestimate feedback loops: one change can trigger unexpected ripple effects, sometimes worsening the very crisis it sought to resolve.

Take terrorism. Raids, arrests, or even military campaigns can suppress visible threats in the short term. But unless governance failures, poverty, ideological networks and foreign policy dynamics are addressed, militancy adapts, regenerates and resurfaces.........

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