We must make a distinction between “improved”, or even “transformed”, relations with the US and a “strategic partnership” with it. We have moved from a relationship traditionally riddled with mutual suspicion and distrust to one of increasing openness and promise. The comfort levels with America have greatly risen amongst the business and managerial class, the young achievers, the modernizers, the professionals and opinion makers.

The movement for Pakistan, as envisaged by its chief promoter Mohammed Ali Jinnah, was not intended to produce a religion dominated theocratic state. No doubt he engaged in communal tactics and successfully executed a spurious doctrine, the two nation theory, to reach his goal of Pakistan, but the founders of the movement had planned for a state basically as a homeland for Muslims which would govern itself following the British traditions of liberalism and secularism.

Islam encompasses all the nobilities that every other religion has, compassion, love, justice, brotherhood, equality etc. but it also poses several dilemmas. The dilemmas arise, as the values instilled by Islam were those needed for bringing order to a desert tribal society of the 6th century. The doctrines laid down for reforms prevent Islamic values from keeping pace with the evolving parameters of the rest of the world.