Monday, February 7 2005 18:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Part II

The American strategy is to link financial assistance to Pak with it's cooperation on terror or in other words, Musharraf can hold on to power, at his whims and fancies, as long as he treads the US-directed path.

In the short term, this looks fine for both the US and Musharraf. But it is detrimental to both! Yes both US and Pakistan.

To begin with, US (in order to achieve it's objective) is rewarding a man, who has vested himself with all the powers - executive, judiciary, parliamentary and the media, which is nothing but "Dictatorship". Under these circumstances, every reward to a dictator is retribution on the nation of Pakistan.

The US is using Musharraf in the hope of achieving the desired result of victory over war on terror, and once it comes even is it is anywhere close to it, then Musharraf is dumped, just like Zia was dumped after the Soviets left.

Musharraf also knows this, but he is bent upon playing his own game. He has taken it for granted that as long as the war on terror exists, he is backed by the most powerful country, however, illegitimate his power is. He is believed to have even gone to the extent of referring parts of Pakistan as "extremist" and "obscurantist".

Again, Musharraf doesn't want to commit the mistake that Zia-ul-Haq had committed. This is exactly the reason why he is in no hurry for the War on Terror to end.

At home, the Opposition, the pro-democratic groups and even the hard-liners of Pakistan collectively loathe him, though each of them have different reasons that is better than the rest.

The people of Pakistan, according to a local survey, have indicated that most, if not all, hate Bush to the core. And, since their hatred is towards Bush, their ire would turn towards Bush's local contact - Musharraf.

The outcome of all this! Only time can tell, but, both US and Musharraf are bound to face newer and tougher challenges.

Because, the US has built a dictatorial regime (in Pakistan) to counter terrorism in Afghan and Iraq, which means that Pakistan looks to be heading towards becoming another Afghanistan or Iraq, remember Taliban and Saddam were autocratic.

For Musharraf, the end of war on terror, means an end to his power and more importantly the US support. He also has to ready himself to face the wrath of anti-Bush sentiments prevalent in every nook and corner of Pakistan.

All these equations throw up several questions;

Will Musharraf meet the fate of Zia? Will US assume responsibility to usher in democracy in Pak, akin to Iraq? What should be India's stand vis-a-vis democracy in Pak?

Answers for all these and many more such questions, only time can tell.

For Me, Terror means Money and Power......-Part I