The crises faced by Pakistan since September 11 have brought to the surface the many contradictions marking its domestic and external policies for the past two decades. However, they also offer the opportunity to shed past baggage and embark on a new course. The subtle and not-so-subtle shifts effected by Pakistan’s military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, in the country’s national security policy must therefore be seen in this light. But even as Musharraf grapples with external threats, his agenda at home continues to be informed by the principal contradiction between the military and civil society. How has he fared on these two fronts?
India and Pakistan: Multiple Crises
Kashmir looks like remaining a region of conflict. It may be that a degree of tension will serve the domestic interests of the Indian government, but for Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, the crisis can only add to troubles at home, where the political opposition is turning belligerent and the civil-military faultline is becoming more pronounced. All sides are playing a dangerous game.
