The Only Way Forward for Pakistan

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?

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?

Yes dumbass MQM was also responsible for 9/11

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

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!

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 ...

Ahmer:

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

Ejaz

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.

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

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.

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

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

With messing up the autopsy report the credibility of Musharraf government has hit even beyond the bottom -- nobody believes anything that stupid man says -- the hosing of the crimes scene within hours of the crime -- the complete change of government story from day one to day two -- and the 'timely' intercept of Mehsud conversation -- the claim of that clever Brig Cheema that "it is not important how she died but who did it" -- "not important"? -- that clever moron thinks everybody is as stupid as he is cunning -- and the disappearance of the pistol -- we saw it being fired and then we saw it lying on the ground in the BBC video clip -- what happened to the pistol

first Najam Sethi interview that a police man shot her -- then next day Najm Sethi elaborate article about how the Jihadis did it -- all these backtrackings make two things crystal clear -- that Pakistan is the worst place to be shot before a crowd of thousands in broad day light -- if you want to collect evidence from the crime scene -- and secondly Pakistan is the most abominable place to seek a court intervention in investigating the crime because every current judge in every current Pakistan court is the personally collared dog of the dog-whisperer Musharraf sahib.

The question is: WHY THIS GODDAM COVER UP as to HOW Benazir died? And WHY it is not important?

Did Pervaiz Illahi and his goonda police did it -- or did Mushy sahib's ISI with or without Musharraf knowledge committed this heinous crime of the century?

#10 Posted by shankar on December 29, 2007 10:23:30 am


Just what the heck has happened to that $10billion? Does any body really know?


F-16s to bomb the jihadis
White phosphorus to shake and bake the ninja chix.
artillery to bomb the jihadi position in swat.
and
single family homes in northern virginia.

Re: # 13, 11 and 10

Shankar, Mohar and Arjun, hopefully there will be more strings attached to the aid we Americans give Pakistan once Bush leaves office. It defies common sense that we give away all this money knowing full well that it is used to undermine America and our allies in the region (India, Afghanistan, Israel and other friendly nations).

Ejaz

#14 Posted by ejazharoon on December 29, 2007 4:17:50 pm

You're naive to think the indian government wasn't in the loop when the decision to sell the F-16s with chains was announced...I don't think the aid undermines India one bit. Economic aid, in the form of a free trade agreement, would have made india angry...military aid comes with strings..and pakistan's rulers come with strings too..

Why would India say a thing to Bush giving Pakis the $10 Billion, when they themselves are getting the nuclear tech form Bush?

More Pakis get in Mil Aid more India gets a reason to build its arsenal.

India knows well that the Military aid will not make Pak any stronger. as Arjun said it, its the Economic aid which makes India worried.

We all know that this War on Terror is just a Sham. The KSA & The US Oil & Defence aparatus is fully supportive of this Jihadi game. In next 12-24 months I can tell you now that US military will be in Pakistan. And Pakistan will be the forward base against China, Iran & Russia.

India was suppose to get the Iranian oil via pipeline through Pak, which may not ever realize. US have already approved the Nuclear Tech for India.

BB was a part of the US game & they have used that card very well.

If it is the PPP guys making all this violence, why is it that it is more intense in MQM majortiy area & really low in PPP dominated areas specially interior of Punjab. I know for sure that Karachiwalas do not love BB more than any Punjabi. This violence is a pretext to something far dangerous.