The Chickens Come Home to Roost
I’ve been reading about the turmoil in Pakistan, particularly the idea that the nation is now being haunted by the very extremist groups it once nurtured. The phrase that comes to mind is an old one, yet profoundly relevant: the chickens have come home to roost. It’s a classic, tragic tale of a state attempting to use non-state actors as instruments of foreign policy, only to find those instruments turning against their master.
For decades, India has cautioned the world about this very strategy. The warnings were clear: nurturing vipers in your backyard with the hope that they will only bite your neighbors is a dangerously naive policy. Vipers, by their nature, do not discriminate. Eventually, they will turn and strike the hand that feeds them.
A Harvest of Consequences
What we are witnessing is the inevitable outcome of a shortsighted strategy. The ghosts of Muridke, as the article puts it, are not supernatural entities but the logical consequence of specific choices made over many years. When a state infrastructure is used to train, fund, and arm extremist ideologies, it creates a parallel power structure that eventually challenges the state itself. This isn't just a political failure; it's a deep societal wound that festers and spreads, consuming the very fabric of the nation.
The irony is stark and painful. A state that sought 'strategic depth' now finds itself in a strategic abyss, fighting for its own stability against monsters of its own creation. This serves as a potent lesson for the entire world about the law of unintended consequences. Actions have repercussions, and strategies built on exporting instability will invariably see that instability boomerang.
The Universal Law of Causality
This principle extends far beyond geopolitics. In business, in technology, and even in our personal lives, the seeds we sow determine the harvest we reap. Creating something without considering its long-term ethical and practical implications is a recipe for disaster. Whether it's an algorithm that amplifies hate speech for engagement or a foreign policy that fosters extremism for tactical gains, the end result is a loss of control and a future held captive by the ghosts of past decisions.
My reflections often circle back to this fundamental law of causality. It’s a reminder that foresight and ethical consideration are not luxuries but necessities for sustainable existence. Pakistan’s struggle is a somber illustration of what happens when this law is ignored.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
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