By J.N. Raina - Syndicate Features
Now Pakistan President General (Retired) Pervez Musharraf is without uniform, which he wanted to retain and keep close to his chest, till he desired. He is no more a top dog in the Army. His status is somewhat akin to that of the Israeli leader, Samson, who was famous for his strength, which was rooted in his hair. Musharraf without uniform is what Samson was without long hair.
Intrinsically, he is gripped with ‘fear’ ahead of the February 18 general elections to the National Assembly and four Provincial Assemblies. These much-awaited elections are very crucial for Pakistan’s survival. It will also serve as a litmus test for Musharraf’s ability to handle the situation, which is fraught with dangerous consequences. The elections, which according to political Pandits will not be free, fair and transparent, as desired, will decide about his future that seems to be bleak. Musharraf is on tenterhooks.
There is a lot of excitement in Islamabad that Musharraf might ‘quit’ if poll verdict goes in favour of the opposition parties—that is likely to happen—like the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and other like-minded parties, which want ‘true democracy’. Obviously, Musharraf knows the game plan and is scared of the political retribution, for his acts of omission and commission.
In real terms, Pakistan’s future is at stake in these much-trumpeted elections. There has been a lot of bloodshed for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan. Two-time Prime Minister Ms Benazir Bhutto has been martyred for the cause of democracy. Nawaz Sharif, a former Prime Minister, has equally suffered. General (Retd) Musharraf is scared.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has warned ‘dictator’ Musharraf that election results must be ‘acceptable’ to the international community; and how Pakistan conducts the vote could determine the future of that country.
The opposition parties, the legal fraternity and also the Ex-Servicemen Society have asked Musharraf to step down and usher in ‘true democracy’ by exercising free, fair and transparent poll. They are highly critical of Musharraf’s role, culminating in the imposition of emergency on November 3 last, later revoked under global pressure. But only after a lot of damage was wrought to public life and polity. Musharraf crushed judiciary, sacking 50 judges of the superior court. He equipped himself with ‘extra-constitutional’ powers, which he wielded in heaping abuses on people. If the opposition comes to power, they are bound to retaliate and indulge in political vendetta.
Every one from Islamic radicals—who were nurtured by his ISI--- to his western allies is against him for varied reasons. The U S has come to believe that he is a spent force now. They feel enough is enough with his ways of dealing with counter-insurgency measures and global terror. He is being encircled from different directions. This is why he is at his wits’ end and wants to quit. May be even before the polls are held, or if held at all.
The radicals, linked to Al Qaeda and Taliban, are entirely opposed to polls. They have no faith in democracy and have launched a crusade against the prevailing system of governance. Their posture against Musharraf will stiffen further if the U S continues directing Musharraf to make room for its special forces inside Pakistan. They want to launch a strong offensive against Al Qaeda and the Taliban entrenched in the Tribal area.
Two top American intelligence officials were in Islamabad recently on a mission to put pressure on Musharraf, to allow the CIA ‘greater latitude’ to operate in the Tribal region. But fearing reprisal from the Mujahid, Musharraf has ‘rebuffed’ the American offer to expand U S combat operation on Pakistan’s soil. The opposition parties will never allow such covert operations. The beleaguered country will loose its sovereignty the moment U S forces go on a foray to gain a foothold there.
There is something fishy in the U S designs. The Pentagon has already taken a decision, may be in agreement with the new Army Chief, General Ashraf Kiyani (in the absence of Pervez Musharraf, who was touring Europe) to send ‘special forces’ inside Pakistan to ‘train’ Pakistani troops with the intention of meeting Pakistan’s ‘terrorist challenge’. William Fallon, commander of the U S central command has issued what is called ‘planning order’ to develop ‘new approaches’ to help Pakistan combat terrorism. General Kiyani has been in the good books in U S.
According to defence analysts, it is a ‘covert’ attempt to ‘inject’ U S troops inside Pakistan, which is bound to create further upheaval in Pakistan. When this ‘internal communication’ really takes shape, it will prove a death knell for Musharraf and his cohorts. Even though the U S is aware of the political and security problems Musharraf is facing, they are pushing him to the edge of the cliff to allow their special forces, in unison with the Pakistani troops, to launch an assault in the Tribal area.
There are various other ways to ferret out Osama from his hideout. But the Americans are not interested in baby talk. They could make use of Osama’s son, who is totally opposed to his father’s jihad. They could persuade the warmonger, with the help of other friendly Muslim nations, to shun the violent path, because once upon a time bin Laden was the Americans’ fidus Achates (a devoted follower).
The U S has made several vain attempts to meddle in the internal affairs of Pakistan, which is facing ‘political and security’ crisis of great magnitude. Secretary of Defence Robert Gates announced on January 24 that U S forces were ‘prepared ’to assist Pakistan Army in counter-insurgency operations. Last year, the U S Presidential hopeful Barack Obama had made an equally harsh statement: “If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won’t act, we will”. The Democratic Presidential aspirant Hilary Clinton has even told Musharraf to share the ‘security responsibility’ of the nuclear weapons with the U S and Great Britain so that there is ‘failsafe mechanism’.
But Musharraf has snubbed them, saying the only way for militants to gain control of the nuclear weapons would be if Al Qaeda and Taliban ‘defeat the Pakistan Army’, or if Islamists won the elections. If first is impossible, the second part of his statement is not impractical. Well General (Retired) Musharraf, be on the guard.
The truth of the matter is that the moment the U S ‘special forces’ enter Pakistan on any pretext, that country, already on the boil, will loose its independence. It will help extremists and terror groups to wage a full-fledged jihad against the Pakistan establishment. Before it can happen, Musharraf might ‘quit’ and make a nest abroad or go for self-exile. He is facing the worst kind of a situation of his own making.
- Syndicate Features -
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