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Pakistan's Transition Could Be Rocky

Posted on: Tuesday, 19 August 2008, 06:00 CDT

By Paul Wiseman and Richard Wolf

The Bush administration and key members of Congress praised Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's decision to resign Monday, even as experts on the nuclear-armed, terrorist-infested nation warned of possible short-term political instability.

U.S. government officials predicted Pakistan's new democratically elected government, which had threatened to impeach Musharraf, would continue to support the U.S.-led war against terrorism.

"We certainly expect they'll keep up their fight against terrorists and extremists," said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe. "It's not only a threat to the United States, Western Europe and the whole free world, but it's a threat to Pakistan as well."

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said as much after a cordial White House meeting with President Bush last month. "We are committed to fight against those extremists and terrorists who are destroying and making the world not safe," he said.

However, the transition from Musharraf's nine-year military rule to a government run by two coalition parties could be rocky, analysts say. Pakistan, a nuclear power like neighboring India, faces mounting domestic and economic problems, and its border with Afghanistan is home to Taliban insurgents -- possibly even al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

"What's very troubling for the Americans is most Pakistanis think that the war on terror is not their war. It's our war," said Dennis Kux of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless 1999 coup, had enjoyed strong support from the White House and more than $11 billion in U.S. aid since 2002. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice offered America's "deep gratitude" Monday for what she called Musharraf's support against extremists.

Under his leadership, Pakistan's military launched attacks on militant groups along the Afghan border. But on Musharraf's watch, militants seized power in tribal lands and terrorized the nation with suicide attacks.

Musharraf was politically weakened last year after he declared a six-week state of emergency. His supporters were routed in February's elections. Since then, Pakistan's two ruling coalition parties had threatened to impeach him on charges that included violating the constitution.

His resignation won applause from presidential candidates Republican John McCain, who called it "a step toward moving Pakistan on to a more stable political footing," and Democrat Barack Obama, who said it would "end the political crisis" there.

Wiseman reported from Hong Kong; Wolf from Washington. Contributing: Zafar M. Sheikh in Islamabad, Pakistan; Andrea Stone in McLean, Va. (c) Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Source: USA TODAY

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