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Beware Pashtunistan
The United States should go all-out to encourage a free election now. It should press Musharraf, in the run-up to the vote, to hand over power to a genuinely neutral caretaker government formed in consultation with opposition parties and headed by an independent figure like Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. To make this happen, Washington should threaten to cut off not only its $1.5 billion congressionally mandated military aid program to Pakistan but also the direct U.S. subsidies paid to Pakistan's armed forces, which started in 2001 and will reach $7.5 billion next year. These subsidies, described as reimbursement for counterterrorism operations, have flowed freely in recent years regardless of the effectiveness of Pakistan's antiterror operations. Tying them to real progress in governance would get Musharraf's attention; indeed, it's the only way to ensure his cooperation.
Harrison has covered Pakistan as a journalist and author since 1951. He is director of the Asia Program at the Center for International Policy.
© 2007
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Member Comments
Posted By: Ali khan @ 01/19/2008 10:11:21 PM
Comment: ghg
Posted By: Ali khan @ 01/19/2008 10:10:50 PM
Comment: its a long discussion but here the short answer is that
(1) anybody who wants to know what we pashtuns think of pakistan he should go and see in villages and towns of "NWFP". we absolutely loath Pakistan.
(2) Durand line does not exist on ground but in the dreams of pakistanis.
(3) Even pakistan's brain child Taliban didn't accept Durand line.
(4) Before 1971 pakistanis were talking in the same tone as today they are once again but Bengalis got thr way and now we will get our way.
Posted By: Ali khan @ 01/19/2008 10:01:57 PM
Comment: Durand line is a line in the air and does not exist on the ground the real line which exists on the ground is Attock where you see a sudden change when you enter Punjab, you realize that you enterd Hindustan and left Afghanistan behinde. Asking us to respect durand line is asking to respect knife on our throat which will never happen and even pakistan's brain child Taliban didn't accept Durand line.
And if anybody wants to know what we pashtuns think of pakistan go and see in our villages and towns of "NWFP".