On the 60th Death Anniversary of the Founder Father of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad All Jinnah, the situation of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is not, by any standard, anywhere near he wishes and vision of its founder. On the contrary Pakistan is facing the most critical cross road of its chequered history today after exactly 60 years since the passing away of the great leader who performed the miracle of creating a new ideological state and thus changed the geography of South Asia. Jinnah's goal was well defined and crystal clear, based on his historic Two-Nation Theory. Inspite of heavy odds against him, Jinnah won, without leading a single protest rally on the roads, without giving a single protest call or shutter down or wheel jamming as is the order of the day today. Quaid-i-Azam never went to jail for a single day whereas jail yatra is considered an essential pre-qualification for leadership today. Yet Jinnah was acclaimed as Quaid-i-Azam by no less a person than Mahatma Gandhi, the undisputed bapu (father) of Hindu India. The British government of the day fully supported this image of Gandhi backed by the British Viceroy in New Delhi and bulk of Hindu India chanting the Gandhi mantras in their temples of all shades and hues. Against this political and religious environment sweeping India in the first half of the 20th century, the young barrister Jinnah, emerged as the sole representative of the Muslims of India forcing an eminent British writer Beverly Nicholas in 1945 to proclaim him as one of the greatest world leaders of the 20th century. As the birth of Pakistan appeared inevitable after the end of World War II, the British Government dispatched what is known as the Cabinet Mission to India to thwart the split in the subcontinent by creating a separate state of Pakistan comprising areas where the Muslims were in a clear majority. At this juncture, Winston Churchill made a historic anti-Pakistan movement statement: "I have not become the King's First Minister to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire." This was the last highest level bid of the British government to brow beat Quaid-i-Azam and his Pakistan movement. Churchill who had won World War II lost the battle for a United India. Gandhi and the Congress enjoying full support of Mountbatten also lost. Quaid-i-Azam won by defeating Churchill, Mountbatten and Gandhi. This historic victory proves the unique leadership of the Quaid which has no parallel in the history of the world. Having said that, where does the Islamic Republic of Pakistan stand today on September 11, 2008 - 60 years after our Founder Father breathed his last on September 11 in 1948. Had the Quaid been given a few more years after the independence or had our leadership after the Quaid realised the gigantic challenge of nation building, we would have been spared three martial laws and three wars with India. The best news of the year 2008 is that democracy has once again dawned after almost 9 years of military rule. However, before the four party democratic ruling alliance could blaze the new trail towards the goal of a democratic Islamic welfare state, the ruling alliance has been overtaken by a gathering storm of internal and external challenges. On the eve of the oath taking of President Zardari, a major partner of the ruling coalition Nawaz quit the alliance and decided to sit in the opposition. This has brought about a situation of uncertainty and grave concern about the political stability in the country and particularly ruling alliance of the province of Punjab. In spite of all assurances by Zardari that the present status in the centre and provinces including Punjab shall endure and remain undisturbed, the air continuous to remain ridden which absence of mutual trust and confidence. There is no reason why the nation should not be rest assured on this solemn assurance from the President of Pakistan. However, an unprecedented threat to our national security has emerged. On this critical juncture of our history which coincides with US presidential election in the first week of November 2008, this new development is very ominous. The new rules of engagement authorising US ground attacks inside Pakistan, signed by Bush in July this year have flared up intense combat flames along our Western border. The Pakistani government has never agreed to the new rules of engagement sanctioned by Bush. Gen Kiyani has made it clear that no external forces will be allowed to conduct operations inside the Pakistani territory. PM Gilani also added that no stone would be left unturned in defending Pakistan's border and no external force would be allowed to conduct any military operations inside the Pakistani territory. Therefore, Washington is well advised to take the notes of warning by Pakistan more seriously to avoid further worsening of the situation in the best interests of both Pakistan and US. The resolving of this crisis through diplomatic channels should be the top priority issue for the Pakistani leadership on the solemn occasion of Quaid-i-Azam's 60th death anniversary. The writer is the president of the Pakistan National Forum