Capitalism & War in Pakistan Riaz Ahmed July 3, 2010
International Socialists (Pakistan) worldtowinpk.net 1
Hopefully what you will learn •
How capitalism & war spread in Pakistan
•
Failed ruling class but united in war on people/working class
•
War on Pakistan -- Imperialist role
•
By dividing working class on war the ruling class spreads war and makes profits
•
Resistance: Taliban, Divided left, working class struggles, peoples struggles
•
Why workers of world need to unite to smash capitalism and war 2
Pakistan Khyber Pukhtoonkhawa (North
Kashmir PO
West) Tribal + Settled Military operation pop 11%
Punjab
Balochistan Military operation Poorest pop 6%
Sindh 3
Swat and Waziristan –Military Operation Sites
4
Pakistan in World Economy
5
Reforms? • Divided ruling class united in brutality – Military/ economic war: • • • • •
rural poor and urban workers -- divided ‘we are fighting a difficult war’ Taliban, Blackwater, Sectarian Outfits Pro-Imperial Ethnic/Nationalists, Pro-war Islamicists, Liberals, Democrats
• Volatility – Layer after layer of oppressed respond – Problems • Military, war, suicide bombing • massive price hike, despair
• NO reform but revolution – What sort of revolution 6
And How Brutally This Integration is Maintained
7
War for Displacement in Pakistan 8
War in Pakistan • 2001-2010 • War Against Terrorism = War on Af-Pak • Killings*
Military, 8785, 18%
• 2001-10 : 47,000 killed 2009: 12,815 killed Civilians, • $40bn loss 21672, • 4 million displaced 45%
Terrorists, 17742, 37%
– Response: suicide attacks, explosions and bloodshed. •
*Pak Military figures
47,000 Deaths in Pakistan War since 2001
9
War for Displacement •
Drone/Attacks by USA – – –
•
700 were killed in 2009 560 in 6 months of 2010 209 killed in 130 political violence
Pakistani War of Occupation 2002–
Waziristan 700 to 3000 Pakistani soldiers killed • •
South Waziristan peace deal 90,0000 of the 600,000 Warizistan migrants
• Swat military operation 2008– Killed 6,800 civilians – Displaced 3.44 million
– Still 2million displaced
10
2004-2010 Military Operations KP
• Another occupying army Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies/Pak Army
– 821 Check-Posts, – 150,000 troops on Af-Pak – 50,000 troops in Swat/Tribal Area – 596 ‘operational attacks’ military
11
History of Military Operations • Military Operations • 1971 Bangladesh (East Pak) Military Op • At least 30,000 Bangladeshis killed • At most 3 million Bangladeshis killed
• 1973 Balochistan Military Operation • 3000 soldiers and 5000 Baloch died • Thousands went missing
• 1984 Sindh Military Operation • 45,000 soldiers mobilized to crush democratic movement, killing over 1000
• 1992 Karachi Military Operation • Hundreds killed • 1770 died in factional violence 12
How did the war spread? ‘Peoples War on Terror’
• People bombed into supporting war – 2002: General Musharraf’s regime • War unacceptable – Splits Rulers • Benazir Bhutto:‘peoples war on terror’ – – unites ruling class! Even under Zardari! – Divided Working Class => Eco Repression/Cuts
13
War and US Defense Aid Military Expenditure $bn
• In 2009 Obama said: ‘Pakistani government is weak but Pakistani military can be trusted’
• Pakistan’s Military Expenditures Rising –
45% budget:Debt/Military
–
Debt 379% of 2010 Budget.
– $800 million for health education of 175 million people – $8000 million for Military
8
7.8
7
6.5
6 5 4 3 2
2.6 2
1.8
1 0 0.075 2002
2009
2010
US Military Aid $bn Pak Military Expenditure $bn Health/Education
14
Class Society 2001-2010
GDP Trebled to $168 billion 50% Service Sector Wealth 47,000 dead
15
Pakistan and Class Divide •
Pakistanis produce a lot of wealth. – – – – – – –
•
Richest 20% own 50% of Wealth
2009 : GDP$166bn (3 times 2001) 27th largest by ppp Tax Collection $15bn Exports $18bn (Textile, Rice) Stock Exchange $25bn Foreign Investment $4.6bn Debt $50.1bn
But share a fraction of that wealth – 2005-09:
Richest 20% 50%
Poorest 20% 6%
• 13million more slipped in poverty
– 62 million people poor (36% of 175mn) Rest 44%
16
Wealth Production Enormous in ‘war years’
GDP
Pakistan GDP Billion Dollars 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
Year
17
2010
Work and Wealth • Employment – – – – –
Agriculture 44% Manufacturing 13% Sale/transport 20% Edu/Health 5% Indirect taxes • were 48% in 2001 • Now 60% in 2009
• Profits
Balochistan
Karachi
– Telecom Revenue $2.8bn, one investment $745 – Karachi Stock Market $1bn profit of one day = 1 yr budget of Balochistan/North West 18
Rocketing Prices • Electricity Price Hike – Electricity Shortage
• Promise – More liberalization more electricity
• Result – less electricity at higher prices
• Profit taking – in Thermal, OilExploration, Petroleum – all ‘deregulated
12 12
12 10
9.5 8.5
8 6 4
4
4
2 0
2004
2009
2010
Per Unit Price of Electricity Rs/unit
19
Fightbacks Resistances 20
Baloch Resistance • 2004-Balochistan Military Operation – Operation for global investment – $700 million/year from 1 pipeline – Balochistan Budget < investment in one port – Gas for Pakistani capital— Australia/China… – Displacement of tribes • Backward…influx of outsiders necessary
• Massive Resistance by nationalist Baloch – Over 4000 missing – Youth, liberation armies, • State-sponsored target killing non-Baloch. 21
Pushtoon Resistance – History • Against British Colonialism – Faqir Api – Mullah Mastan (Mad Mullah) – Populzai – Bacha Khan • All related/respected by Big Madressas! • Movment against colonialism rooted in rural/religion • Not to impose order from above 22
Rising Commercial Class $7 bn Foreign Remittance $3bn to Rural North West
23
Pushtoon/Islamicists Resistance Resistance/Injustices lead to Resistance
• • • • • •
Injustice rampant Anger simmers Property: Source/Dispute Millions of landless 60% disputes about land Commercial bourgeoise rising • War Zone: Pushtoon Nationalist Awami National Party – Operation: Upper class Khans/Maliks revenge on rural poor 24
Injustices lead to Resistance • Weak old structure – unable to put up the Khan, Maliks, Judicial system and police system
• Anger amongst the petty-bourg – supported by landless rural poor – Democratic Islamicists in power 2004 • Did not work • implemented World Bank projects with green labels • Basic problems of unemployment and land-disputes
– Since 2008 • military is there to uphold the old falling class structure. 25
War for Liberty? • Human Rights Watch – “mounting evidence” of more than 200 summary executions in Swat..of suspected Taliban sympathisers.” does not condemn operations! – Families of ordinary/Taliban held hostage – Anti Terror Laws: Court accepts statements made in police/custody extended to Swat/FATA 26
Left/Lib: Resistance=Taliban=> support Imperialist War – Taliban = barbarians
– “The principle that military operations against the terrorists should be carried out in a manner…was not always observed.”
– Absent: the insight • “the temptation:militarize, outsource a struggle that can only be waged politically, and by the Left. “ • NO Anti War Movement • Tariq Ali/Arundhati Roy – invited by supporters of military operation 27
Divide B/w Pro and Anti-War • So there is War – and also the Resistance – Mainly led by Taliban
• Almost absent Left opposition to war? • Cities – traditional anti-war pro-left is pro-war – few condemn military action • but associate condemnation of Taliban as equally important
• Result …no consistent resistance to war. 28
Anti-Imperialism Mixed with AntiMullahism • Logic=Conspiracy: ISI created • Youth – has only the Taliban to go for
• Left’s dilemma:imperialist war
– problem of addressing militant Islam and Imperialism – Fails to address generally – Working class divided…Strong Capitalists 29
Workers Eat Charity to Pay Bills • Pro-capital exploitation – massive destitution.
• Karachi Saylani Welfare Trust – designed for prisoners/sick to eat from charity – Serves 50,000 Karachites daily
• Helps pay rent, electricity bills, school fees – “If a person from any poor & low income family eats food from our center and saves his money to spend it on his children's education, house rent, electricity & gas bills then believe us we have succeeded in saving this society.” 30
Result of Weak Anti-War Movement: Destabilization 31
Result of Weak Anti-War Movement: Destabilization • War lords Everywhere • Paksitani Army – Taliban – Anti-Taliban
• ‘Peace Committees’ – – – – –
Pukhtoon Peace Committee Dacoit Peace Committee MQM Pakistan Peace Coalition US sponsored ‘Peace Movement’, • ‘Peace Jirga’ • ‘Peace Lashkar’ 32
Destabilization • Blackwater sponsored • US sponsored – ethnic, national, sectarian war-lords – explosions, extortion, kidnapping, ransom. – Dictator Gen Musharraf…Benazir Bhutto/Zardari
33
Working Class Movements • Many Many Struggles • Tens Thousands – – – –
temporary workers Demand permanent status Electricity crisis protests Fare rise protests
• Success – Temporary made permanent in steel, electricity, gas industry… govt controlled – Public sector pay raise by 50%
• More Attacks – New Taxes to impose an inflation of 25% 34
Working Class Movements • Usual – succeed if persistent – More workers ready to prolong struggles – …past short struggles.
35
Popular Movements • Lawyers movement – Judiciary restored – Gen Musharraf resigned
• Power loom workers – struggle for better wages and electricity
• Teachers movement – in Punjab and Sindh
• Hotel workers – Occupation – Solidarity 36
Future • • • • • • • • •
Afghanistan surge failed US defeated now wants a compromise Pakistani state sees an on-coming rise of rightwing Myth exposed about secular turn of Pakistani state Weak ruling class Division b/w national and pro-imperial bourg Petty bourg movements taking working class along Fight-backs possible and happening Anti-imperialism – , anti-war, anti-national repression movements to be build
• Working class central 37
Unite/Organise to Fight World Capitalism • 40 countries occupy Afghanistan • Despite difference Pak/US other militaries unite to smash common enemy –resistance • Workers in Pakistan to lead struggles against war and exploitation – overcome division • Workers of Pakistan, Britain others unite to fight united world capitalism • Organise 38 • Join SWP in Britain to organise against capitalism and
What you probably have learned •
How capitalism & war spread in Pakistan
•
Failed ruling class but united in war on people/working class
•
War on Pakistan -- Imperialist role
•
By dividing working class on war the ruling class spreads war and makes profits
•
Resistance: Taliban, Divided left, working class struggles, peoples struggles
•
Why workers of world need to unite to smash capitalism and war
39