The Only Way Forward for Pakistan

[...what the heck has happened to that $10billion? ...]

Spent on buying weapons to counter India...no kidding... read nytimes article on that...

ejazharoon,

I'm glad someone bought that up. As a US citizen & taxpayer, I dont begrudge my country giving $10 billion to Pakistan, as long as it benefits the common Pakistani citizen. Alas, thats wishful thinking...& perhaps far too idealistic.

Just what the heck has happened to that $10billion? Does any body really know? I dont hear any Pakistani poster ever thanking my country.

Alas, the blame goes primarily to my govt. They figure thats the price to pay to make a puppet jump.

Pakistan needs to be more forthcoming. If they dont like American interference, they should forgo the aid. Wonder if any Pakistani head of state, civilian or military, has the guts to do so.

An article in the Washington Post basically argues for the same thing - restoration of the judiciary, a caretaker government of national consensus. This of course would require too much wisdom from musharraf the arrogant duffer.

Pakistan's Best Chance
By Wendy Chamberlin (former US Ambassador to Pakistan) and Marvin Weinbaum
Saturday, December 29, 2007

Excerpts:

Musharraf would instantly win national approval if he reappointed the Supreme Court justices he deposed during emergency rule...Government limitations on media coverage of politics should be lifted. Most critical, the administration of elections must be taken out of the hands of local officials, many of whom are loyal to the governing party above all else.
...The United States has a high stake in Pakistan's stability, but we must leave the selection of Pakistan's leaders to the Pakistani people.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/28/AR200712 2802315.html

Well, Pakistan army is dependent of foreign aid. It's benefiting them. So, they don't want to finish this war. They're playing with US. Playing with US can be a dangerous game.

Ahmer:

How about writing to your senator and representative to cut off aid to Pakistan until the army calls it a day?

Ejaz

Ahmer, Yours is one of the last cries of hope. Your solution is the only easy way out of this situation but seems idealistic because of army's vested interest. Hope Kiyani does listen and play's a hero's role. The other way, again one of the last hope is what Tariq Ali has said: demoractic parties reorganizing and putting up a fight to save the country ... otherwise there will be soon many more goodbyes, including possibly of federation ...

the khi is violence is def MQM and not PPP. i have seen PPP up close and although you wont call their supporters gentlemen who wear tweeds they are not hooligans either.
this khi violence is def MQM teamed with mushy!
Also i dont think the islamists have anything to do with her death, they have always been against a woman being a ruler but they had 2 brilliant chances to kill her when she was a ruler , why now?
plus if its al qaeda they would not just kill her but do it in a open way with tape releases and messages as they have always done.
this is an act of an emperor who has no clothes!

there is no way forward for pakiland until the jihad monster is eliminated... at present I don't see how this can be done...

Yes dumbass MQM was also responsible for 9/11

Ahmer, You are right, army chief derailed and messed around with the country and its a high time that another army chief brings the things on track. But let me highlight at this point of time that he may not be in a position to do so even if he want to. The reason is Musharaf has secured his position by appointing general nadeem taj, a first cousine of Mrs Sehba Musharaf as a chief of notorious ISI. So at present army chief may not be on his own for taking such decesions. Then Ranjit is right in saying that things have to come up from state department. But let me correct ranjit that if you understand how army works then u must be knowing that beauty of this institution is that u obey the high command and pak army is a very very conventional and professional army. Its not necessary watever is being done is wat whole army wants. Its the commander who has damaged the reputation of this army. Professional armies impart professional traing and does not teach them to go into civil wars and do mutiny.
Secondly, let me say here that I have a feel that even USA wanted musharaf to go but he had been playing his cards quite smartly. Musharaf and MQM have become a party and there are very bright chances of involvement of MQM in this murder. What do others say?

Ahmer, I feel your pain in the article but arent you forgetting the mai-baap of the pak army? I mean the good ol' USA? Do you think Kiyani can do anything without getting it cleared with the State Department? Musharraf wont go until the US dumps him and that aint happening. If anything, the US is going to clutch on him even tighter to get rid of Behtullah Mehsud and the Taliban operating in Quetta.

Secondly the Pak army is a corporation with major commercial interests where it is a monopoly. You think they are crazy to give up all that and live like Indian army officers on a measly salary and a 2 bedroom government flat? Indian army chief has to go through security check at airports and cant even dismiss a magistrate, let alone a supreme court judge. Why on earth would pak army lower themselves to that status?

There is one and only one thing that can create radical change and impact pakistan's unity - if a sizeable section of the army rebels or mutinies over the war on terror on an ideological basis. In other words if they view the army to be pro US and anti-islamic, while they support the jihadis. That scenario can lead to civil war but again it is highly unlikely since the pak army has a such a good life. Why would they jeopardize that for ideology?