| |
WASHINGTON: Senior figures within the Bush administration are now actively considering a future Pakistan without General Pervez Musharraf as its leader.
Sources from within the US government indicated many now think the President's hold on power is slipping.
The continued suppression of political opponents is a frustrating state of affairs for US officials, who are trying to justify their continued support for Musharraf.
Following a meeting from inside former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's barricaded compound, one American diplomat called for the release of political prisoners and the restoration of free speech.
"The government of Pakistan needs to move as quickly as possible to restore the normal democratic order - our strongly held view that part of that involved the President resigning his role as Chief of Army staff and our view that we need to move as rapidly as possible to have free and fair elections," said Brian Hunt, Principal Officer of the US Consul Office.
President Musharraf had indicated that he will resign as head of the army and hold elections by January 9th.
But US government sources speaking to the New York Times indicate a growing sense that General Musharraf's political mandate is quickly running out in Pakistan.
"That you could have an election in which they would allow power to be taken from them just seems inconceivable," said Marvin Weinbaum, Scholar-in-Residence of the Middle East Institute.
"So now all this talk about elections here can only be meaningful, I'm afraid, without President Musharraf."
The US Deputy Secretary of State, John Negroponte, is expected to visit Pakistan imminently, and hold face-to-face talks with the President Musharraf.
But as political opponents continue to be rounded up in Pakistan, analysts are doubtful about how much can be achieved in the short term.
"The administration really has to think very carefully about the extent to which it wants to be seen as being aligned with a country where democracy has been suspended," said Nora Bensahel, Rand Corporation's senior political scientist.
"And even if there are elections that are to be held, if there is no freedom of speech going on before that, that calls into question the democratic credentials of the election. They have to balance that with the fact that Pakistan is still a very important player with counter terrorism efforts."
As General Musharraf's support amongst civilians continues to be eroded, much now depends on his continued hold on the military.
Musharraf's ability to control counter-terrorism operations and provide logistical support across the border into Afghanistan is still seen as vital to Washington's wider security interests.
- CNA/yb
|
