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| India-Pakistan |
| US interests in Pakistan larger than support for Musharraf |
| 2007-06-13 |
| American interests in Pakistan are larger than one man and as Gen Musharraf’s popularity has fallen, US support for him is growing increasingly irrelevant in the current political environment, according to Lisa Curtis, the Heritage Foundation’s South Asia expert. The Heritage Foundation, the leading conservative think-tank in Washington, has been a supporter of the Pakistani military leader and his role in the “war on terrorism.” This “breaking of ranks,” therefore is not without significance. Curtis, formerly of the CIA, has served in Pakistan for two years. She writes in a commentary that US reluctance to speak out against curbs on civilian freedoms also risks deepening anti-American sentiment, which Islamic extremists could exploit to further their anti-American agendas. Blindly supporting Musharraf, who is seeking reelection from a five-year-old parliament, while maintaining his role as army chief, is not worth the cost. Instead, Washington should encourage and support a transition to democracy. According to Curtis, “The US is in a position to play a positive role in encouraging a transition to civilian-led democracy in Pakistan, without backing any particular leader or party ... The ideal scenario is a smooth transition to democracy, with Musharraf playing a strong role. But if Musharraf continues to respond to the current political crisis with an increasingly autocratic hand – taking away press freedoms and arresting opposition politicians and peaceful protesters – he will further undermine his credibility and lessen his chances of playing a role in any transition to civilian rule. The Bush Administration has only dealt with a military-ruled Pakistan and therefore has trouble envisioning an alternative. Throughout the 1990s, there were three power centers in Pakistan: the army, the president, and the prime minister. Today, all power is centered in one individual – President Musharraf – an inherently unstable situation for a country with a vibrant civil society and developed political parties. The Pakistani people have agitated for democracy in the past, which led the military to share power with the civilian leaders.” |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 I hope we learned something from the Palestinian elections. Democracy will naturally produce the worst outcome when your population has extremist Muslim tendencies. And when your government also controls nuclear weapons, the risk becomes even greater. |
| Posted by: Chuckles Grotch9320 2007-06-13 03:10 |