Bet on a Pakistan Coup


Back to the future in Pakistan? Last week, General Ashfaq Kiyani flew to Washington for consultations with the Obama Administration; this week, it’s reported from Pakistan, he warned President Asif Ali Zardari to “set things right” in the country before March 16, when opposition forces are set to march on the capital. When the army puts the government on notice to clean up its act, you know what’s coming next.

Zardari, the husband of Benazir Bhutto, has refused to reinstate the judges sacked by former dictator Pervez Musharraf because if he did, they might resurrect corruption charges against Zardari. But his arch-nemesis, Nawaz Sharif (another self-serving politician loathed by the generals) wants the judges reinstated — even more so now that Zardari’s judges barred him from running for office.

As the country disintegrates in the face of multiple insurgencies and an economy on life support from the IMF, the generals’ patience for the shenanigans of civilian politicians is at an end. And, it seems, Kiyani has Washington’s blessing for cracking the whip.

Of course, the U.S. has traditionally relied on Generals to rule Pakistan and fight its proxy wars — most recently General Zia, and then General Musharraf. Now, after a brief and chaotic flirtation with civilian rule, it seems Washington is ready to resort to its traditional Plan B.

No doubt, Kiyani looks an infinitely preferable option in terms of getting Washington’s business done in the region. So did Musharraf. Indeed, Kiyani being a rather reluctant politician may even call on Musharraf to front the operation again once the military has taken power.

But it’s the military, particularly the ISI (of which Kiyani used to be the head) that’s been at the center of the very policies that most irk Washington. That, somehow, is unlikely to change.

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22 Responses to Bet on a Pakistan Coup

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  5. Clingon says:

    I think that Pakistan should be reunited with India. The whole partition was a mistake. Muslims do perfectly well in India.

  6. Prithvi says:

    I think whole concept of India was wrong, big time. India should be given back to muslims coz they know how to rule hindus well. We cos piss gulping terrorist hindus live well under muslims rule.

    Infact india should be broken into smaller states, one for each caste, and let them compete and then see how gandu Brahmin can beat shooders.

  7. Joshua says:

    I laughed at both of the comments. Pure hilarity.

  8. Guest says:

    Serious question – can you think of a single occasion where the United States has backed a military junta/strongman and it hasn’t come back swiftly to bite it in the ass? Has this *ever worked*? It’s so weird how the U.S. continually acts like it’s pulling puppet strings the world over, but never actually gets anyone to do what it wants – at least, never anything constructive…

  9. Pet Snakes says:

    Thats certainly food for thought, where can I get more information on this?

  10. Muhammad Hamza says:

    Pakistan is our beloved Country. And we will do everything to protect it. Visit the link below for more information.Pakistan Zindabaad
    Pakistan

  11. fatima says:

    Pakistan is our country and we do any thing for it ……

  12. pronostic says:

    lovin’ Pakistan. Its our country, we love Pakistan and as everybody said “we do anything for it”

  13. iddaa says:

    its different i think 🙂

  14. travesti says:

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  15. It’s so weird how the U.S. continually acts like it’s pulling puppet strings the world over

  16. Pakistan is our beloved Country. And we will do everything to protect it. Visit the link below for more information.Pakistan Zindabaad

  17. Thats certainly food for thought, where can I get more information on this?

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  20. ukash says:

    Pakistan is our country and we do any thing for

  21. ucuz ukash says:

    I think that Pakistan should be reunited with India. The whole partition was a mistake.

  22. Pakistan is our beloved Country. And we will do everything to protect it. Visit the link below for more information.Pakistan Zindabaad

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