> > This is rubbish, not to mention the fact that Pakistan's "economy" has > always "boomed" with the infusion of billions of US$ in aid. >
Shiv, that is exactly right. If you chart Pakistan's GDP growth since independence and the infusions of foreign aid into the country, you'll find the two charts almost identical. The spurts in foreign aid came under Ayub Khan in the late 60s, when the US began to see Pakistan as a strategic ally in South Asia, Zia in the late 70s (Afghanistan) and Musharraf after 9/11. Because dictators happened to be in charge, this led to the myth that dictatorship was somehow a factor in Pakistan's economy doing well. I've written more on the subject here: http://indiauncut.com/iublog/article/general-pervez-musharrafs-incentives/ Vir Sanghvi's contention that the old Nehruvian policies are responsible for the current situation seems incorrect since much of the boom appears to be a result of the reversal of some of those policies in the past two decades. I agree. I think Sanghvi began with the conclusion and then tried to fit the argument around it... Cheers Amit -- Amit Varma http://www.indiauncut.com
