In less than three months the world’s second largest Muslim country and the only nuclear Islamic state turns sixty since it achieved independence on August 11, 1947, after separating from India. Following independence, religious tension between Muslims and Hindus claimed thousands of lives and led to chaotic dispersals of Muslims and Hindus on both sides - scampering to safety. There was a civil war in 1971, leading to India-backed East Pakistan's separation from Pakistan to form Bangladesh .

Surely, the nation must be involved in deep reflection having experienced numerous conflicts and tensions: wars with India in 1947, 1965, Kargil 1999; the civil war that resulted in Bangladeshi’s independence in 1971; army suppression of dishevels in Waziristan ; separatist agitations in Balochistan from 1973-76 and in 1999; violence against Shia Muslim minorities.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah – the first Governor-general of Pakistan - seen as the founder of Pakistan , a lawyer, joined the Moslem league in 1913 and following his discontentment with the Indian National Congress, he led the struggle for an independent Islamic state from Hindu-dominated India , against his earlier support for the congress. The Indian national congress was founded in 1885 initially to press for representation in British India .

Pakistan harbors a contradiction of economic prosperity and well known cricketers like Mohammed Yousuf and Wasim Akran against a society strewn with deep divisions. Most Pakistanis are Moslems alongside religious minorities, with Sunni Moslems making up most of the more than 160 million people in the country.

Pakistan came into great preeminence when after the September 11 2001, terrorist attacks on America - it became an immense ally of America . America lifted sanctions on Pakistan and sought its assistance in dismantling Osama Bin laden’s influence in Afghanistan . Pakistan and America have had more than half a century of intermittent relationship. Pakistan proved to be an indispensable cold war ally against Soviet communism. It helped ensure the routing of Soviet incursion into Afghanistan . Pakistan was committed to Anticommunist pacts: Southeast Asian Treaty Organization( SEATO, 1954), the Central Treaty Organization ( CENTO, 1955), a bilateral alliance with America in 1958.America was bent on preventing the Soviet union from gaining hold in Southeast Asia and found a partner in Pakistan. During the soviet-Afghanistan war in the 1980s Pakistan proved useful to America .

General Pervez Musharraf - he ousted Mian Mohammed Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless coup in 1999 led by him and in 2001 appointed himself president - has been an ally of America . President Bush in 2004 made Pakistan a major non-NATO ally of the United States .

General Pervez Musharraf’s 8-year rule has galvanized opposition against him. His reign has witnessed great clamp-down on militant activities and violent tensions in the country.

On March 9, he dismissed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry under circumstances seen as dubious leading to the loss of 42 lives in Karachi in a clash between his supporters and opponents.

It has been alleged that Chaudhry’s dismissal - who has ruled against the government in cases -is not unconnected with Musharraf’s anticipation that he would be a clog in the wheel of his power extension plans. On Thursday, thousands of stakeholders gathered in the Eastern City of Lahore demanding the removal of Musharraf and the establishment of democracy.

There has been great agitation to take the country through the path of Islam. Yesterday Muslim clerics were released since their incarceration last Friday following their detention by seminar students and clerics who demanded the imposition of sharia law on the country.

Following the September 13, 2001 terrorist attacks General Pervez Musharraf agreed to U.S cooperation leading to the lifting of sanctions on its nuclear tests in 1998 and 1999. Alqueda related arrests include Abu Faraj al-Libbi and Ramzi bin al Shibh and many believe that Osama bin laden resides in Pakistan .

Geographically, Pakistan is in a strategic position: it borders India to the East; Afghanistan , west and the North while Kashmir in the northeast. Pakistan ’s nuclear weaponry has been a source of worry to some as there are many waiting to swoop down on them. Abdul Quadeer khan , seen as the nuclear father of Pakistan admitted nuclear technology transfers to Libya , Iran and North Korea .

In a recent interview with the Globe and Mail newspaper General Pervez Musharraf said he wanted Pakistan to be a moderate Islamic country. He is a proponent of ‘enlightened moderation’ a two-pronged philosophy: ‘One of the prongs to be delivered by the Muslim world and that is by rejecting extremism and terrorism, and going on the path of social and economic development through restructuring of the entire Muslim world…’ he said.

The other part involves outside participation: ‘The other prong of the strategy was to resolve political disputes and this has to be done by the West and the United States .’ He said. In the interview he said that every country had the right to use nuclear facilities for commercial purposes.

In the United Kingdom some people of Pakistani origin have been tied to terrorism. There was suggestion recently to institute a special visa entry regime for people of Pakistani origin intent on going to America . Britain currently falls under America ’s visa waiver program.

If Musharraf, considered a quisling leaves; who would take over a Pakistan surrounded by many willing to lay hands on its nuclear technology? And what is the future of nuclear proliferation? Can Musharraf survive this storm? Mushraff is seen as the best suited to safeguard the country’s nuclear technology from seeping into dangerous hands and taming the Taliban which many believe Pakistan founded –it established diplomatic relations with the Taliban. Pakistan under Musharraf's watch, has received billions of dollars and military hardware from America as assistance in the fight against terror. During the military conflict against the Taliban following the 9/11 attacks Pakistan ’s airspace was used to launch attacks and American soldiers based there. America aims to prevent military conflicts between India and Pakistan in the event that the nuclear powers would dispense nuclear weapons.

The September 11 2001, commission report of July 2004 identified President Musharraf as the best suited to combat extremism in Pakistan and Afghanistan .

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Robot  Villager

# 1 ... what is the future...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 25.05.2007 17:49