States that have been classified as a "failed" or "failing" are ones in which the present government is unable to exercise its authority or provide for its citizens basic needs. Other factors that exacerbate a nation's status as a failed states include wide-spread corruption, and steady economic decline. Although once a nation with some much promise and potential to succeed in the world, Pakistan has (especially within the past decade) deteriorated into one of the most troubled countries in the world. Since 2005, the Fund for Peace has released a new report each year analyzing all of the failing states in the world. This famous annual list has contained the country Pakistan each year, starting in 34th place in 2005, and it has unbelievably climbed higher every year (currently residing in 9th place for the 2008 report.) Several distinct factors have caused this notoriety for Pakistan, including the divide between East and West Pakistan, the rise of terrorism, and the twelve indicators (including social, economic and political indicators) that show a nation's vulnerability to becoming a failing state, all of which are tearing Pakistan apart.
English: East Bengal Map
Pakistan Monument Shakarpuryan Islamabad (61)
Map of PakistanIn terms of social indicators of failing states, there are four factors. First of these factors is demographic pressures, including pressures originating from high population density relative to the food supply; Pakistan recently has had many food shortages that have left thousands upon thousands starving throughout the country, with the Pakistani government barley able to help. The next social indicator is massive movement of refugees, with thousands of citizens fleeing the country, due in part to the previously mentioned food shortages that have ravished Pakistan. Another social indicator is the long list of vengeance-seeking groups that have many grievances that jeopardize the innocent population; this is seen in Pakistan by the rise of terrorist groups...