2008 Woodie Awards
Viewpoint
Facing the Possibly Impossible in Pakistan
J.B. Sivanich
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: Opinions & Editorials
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By all accounts the situation in Pakistan is a mess that is amplified by Pakistan's geographical position -- it's situated next to Afghanistan and Iran -- and its possession of nuclear weapons.
In the past month, hundreds have died due to political violence and Islamic terrorism. General Pervez Musharraf, who also acts as President, has declared a "State of Emergency," suspending the constitution and detaining over 2,000 dissenters. This move is a greedy power play -- which is not surprising, since Musharraf first came to power through a bloodless coup -- designed as a last-ditch effort for Musharraf to remain in power. Ever since March, when he unconstitutionally jailed an independent, pro-democracy jurist, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Musharraf's approval rating has been falling and his control of the country dwindling.
This series of events cannot be accepted, and pressure must be on Musharraf to reinstate the constitution, re-establish freedom of speech and follow through with his promise to hold free elections within the next 90 days. To certain extent, President Bush and Secretary of State Rice, who hinted at withholding aid before ultimately calling the action unlikely, are doing this. They claim that they cannot afford to withhold aid from Pakistan, whether it is controlled by Musharraf in a dictatorial state or not, because it would hamper the Pakistani military in its attempts to eradicate al-Qaeda and other Islamic militants.
President Bush counts General Musharraf as a key ally in the "War on Terror," and though it is a great luxury to have a partner in the region willing to commit his troops to what many see as mainly an American problem, one must take a closer look at Musharraf's ability to fight al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
In 2006, Musharraf agreed to a cease-fire with militants and extremists in the more mountainous tribal regions, which has led to what the latest U.S. National Intelligence Estimate described as a re-strengthening of al-Qaeda in Pakistan. He has released Taliban militants, including Mullah Obaidullah Akhund who is the highest-ranking Taliban official that Pakistan has ever caught, in a prisoner swap with an infamous tribal warlord and known Taliban supporter, Beitullah Mehsud, for 250 captured government troops. His approval rating (38 percent) has fallen below Osama Bin Laden's (46 percent) among Pakistanis, which has further diminished his effectiveness. Many observers say that recently Musharraf has concentrated much harder on squashing out opposition and tightening his control than on combating militants.
In the past month, hundreds have died due to political violence and Islamic terrorism. General Pervez Musharraf, who also acts as President, has declared a "State of Emergency," suspending the constitution and detaining over 2,000 dissenters. This move is a greedy power play -- which is not surprising, since Musharraf first came to power through a bloodless coup -- designed as a last-ditch effort for Musharraf to remain in power. Ever since March, when he unconstitutionally jailed an independent, pro-democracy jurist, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Musharraf's approval rating has been falling and his control of the country dwindling.
This series of events cannot be accepted, and pressure must be on Musharraf to reinstate the constitution, re-establish freedom of speech and follow through with his promise to hold free elections within the next 90 days. To certain extent, President Bush and Secretary of State Rice, who hinted at withholding aid before ultimately calling the action unlikely, are doing this. They claim that they cannot afford to withhold aid from Pakistan, whether it is controlled by Musharraf in a dictatorial state or not, because it would hamper the Pakistani military in its attempts to eradicate al-Qaeda and other Islamic militants.
President Bush counts General Musharraf as a key ally in the "War on Terror," and though it is a great luxury to have a partner in the region willing to commit his troops to what many see as mainly an American problem, one must take a closer look at Musharraf's ability to fight al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
In 2006, Musharraf agreed to a cease-fire with militants and extremists in the more mountainous tribal regions, which has led to what the latest U.S. National Intelligence Estimate described as a re-strengthening of al-Qaeda in Pakistan. He has released Taliban militants, including Mullah Obaidullah Akhund who is the highest-ranking Taliban official that Pakistan has ever caught, in a prisoner swap with an infamous tribal warlord and known Taliban supporter, Beitullah Mehsud, for 250 captured government troops. His approval rating (38 percent) has fallen below Osama Bin Laden's (46 percent) among Pakistanis, which has further diminished his effectiveness. Many observers say that recently Musharraf has concentrated much harder on squashing out opposition and tightening his control than on combating militants.
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