The basic problem, then, is lack of trust and accountability in the system. If the government can't even run the show at home, where it is king, how can we possibly expect it to perform internationally against opposing interests?
So lets agree that what you are saying is that successive Pakistani governments have been unable or unwilling to create the political will required for Pakistan to live off the taxes it collects ----- fair??
And is it this unfair?:
this anger towards Washington is misplaced. Pakistanis should ask why it is that their state — including its massive, nuclear-armed military — requires outside assistance on the scale it does when Pakistan in fact has considerable national wealth.
And if it's a fair criticism, and we continue to see Pakistani political players unable or unwilling to create the political will to effect and collect taxes widely, what ought we conclude??? For instance, what may we conclude about democratic process in Pakistan? What may we conclude about democratic governance in Pakistan? What may we conclude is the purpose of political parties in Pakistan?
And of course, what do we then do?