A country caught in multiple crises, always drifting from one catastrophe to another, giving birth to monsters that quite often go out of its control.

That’s how the world generally identifies Pakistan. And, since terrorism-related violence has already claimed over fifty thousand precious Pakistani lives, it is hard to dispute this image.

The country’s clergy keeps telling us that it was created in the name of religion and it would be nothing without religion at the center of its political structure.

Thank you for your vote of confidence but, is it really true?

The trouble is today’s Islamic political narrative is devoted to a Pan-Islamic super state or Caliphate which undermines the concept of a nation state. Hence, the religious argument does Pakistan no favour either.

Additionally, there are too many interpretations of Islam, you choose one and the country becomes a hotbed for never-ending sectarian clashes. A religious identity has its limitations for Pakistan in any case.

Islam did not originate in lands that are now part of Pakistan. As the language of Islam remains Arabic, we, the non-Arabs are perpetually locked out of the process of religious interpretation. If we are to accept the clergy’s advice we are bound to follow whatever is decided in the Arab world.

As if the religious right’s point of view was not enough, some of our neighbors also constantly keep reminding us that Pakistan is an artificial state, born unnaturally, bound to fail eventually.

Attempts have been made to find an alternative secular identity for the country. Aitzaz Ahsan tried in vain to find an explanation in the culture of the Indus delta. Late Professor Ahmad Hasan Dani also tried to do something similar by probing the Gandhara civilization and others that have existed in this region. But more of that later.