Pakistan Must Abandon Its Delusional Narrative for Its Own Good

Decades after its creation, Pakistan continues to grapple with a deep-rooted identity crisis, shaped by its historical dependence on foreign powers and a persistent obsession with defining itself in opposition to India.

Born out of the Partition of British India, Pakistan has struggled to assert an identity independent of its eastern neighbour. Its existence, many argue, has been framed less as a sovereign expression and more as a perpetual negation of India — an umbilical cord it never truly severed.

This psychological dependence was most evident during the Cold War, when Pakistan played host to a US airbase in Peshawar in the 1960s. Codenamed “Little USA,” the facility was equipped with American luxuries such as a golf course and a movie theatre, and housed 800 US personnel. President Ayub Khan willingly leased the land, reflecting Pakistan’s readiness to exchange strategic space for aid and military assurances.

The relationship paid initial dividends — the Indus Waters Treaty was signed and US aid flowed in. But the honeymoon ended when John F. Kennedy assumed office, bringing a pro-India tilt to Washington. It was during this period that a young Zulfikar Ali Bhutto accompanied Khan to Washington. When JFK praised Bhutto’s intellect and said he would’ve included him in his cabinet had he been American, Bhutto’s confident, if not cocky, retort was: “If I was American, I would be the president.”

Such remarks reflect a pattern often described in North India with the term hawabaazi — bluster without substance. This tendency to inflate self-worth while avoiding introspection continues to define much of Pakistan’s political and strategic posturing.

At the heart of the issue lies Pakistan’s refusal to acknowledge its own civilisational and cultural roots. In its search for identity, it has disowned shared South Asian heritage and embraced invaders as founders — with some even calling 7th-century Arab commander Muhammad ibn al-Qasim the “first Pakistani.”

Analysts suggest that until Pakistan confronts its historical insecurities and stops defining itself by its rivalry with India, it will continue to drift in a cycle of denial, foreign dependence, and self-deception.

As the region grapples with complex geopolitical shifts, experts agree: it is time for Pakistan to move beyond its delusions — for its own stability and future.