When the Chief Justice of Pakistan was restored by the Supreme Court on Friday very few people knew that it would send ripples as far as Washington, DC. The restoration of Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, who had been removed by President Pervaiz Musharraf on March 9 on charges of misusing his authority, has nibbled at the power of the military strongman in Pakistan and his influence in the United States.
The U.S. has been banking on Musharraf in its global war on terror since 9/11 because apart from Afghanistan and Iraq tribal areas of Pakistan are one of the theatres.
Pakistan’s support to the United States has been crucial to crush the Taliban resistance inside Afghanistan and wipe out their hideouts in the bordering Waziristan. Musharraf sent in thousands of forces in the mountainous area bordering Afghanistan that was no-go area for the army.
But this operation from the very outset had not been that easy. Pakistan army was badly bruised by hardened militants, forcing the government to change its strategy and enter a deal with them.
The September 2006 deal between the government and the militants of Waziristan was taken by the United States with a pinch of salt. The Supreme Court verdict on Friday sent a chilling message to Washington that the man they are banking on is not that strong.
Now, every move that Musharraf would make to enconse himself in power can be challenged in the rejuvenated Supreme Court. This gives Musharraf and his supporters in the White House a cause for concern.
If Musharraf goes, one way or the other, the United States sees no one else who could carry on the work undertaken by him. This leaves the White House with no other option but to act themselves directly.
This is the reason that for the past one week disturbing signals are emanating from the United States. Every second White House aide talks of direct hits inside Pakistan to take out ‘Taliban targets’.
If the United States opts for this military option, it is wrought with more dangers than the ongoing war. Any single bomb that the U.S. would drop inside Pakistan would send hundreds of people, who so far float on the fringes, into the ranks of the militants.
Waziristan is no plain area like Iraq; it is a labyrinthine of thick wooded hills where bombs can be least effective. Enter the ground forces of the U.S. and they are in for a long haul with no success in near future.
Any direct action inside Pakistan would catapult the fundamentalists to power.
If there is any delibrations in the White House on post-Musharraf scenario it should focus on promoting a democratic despensation in Pakistan. For this fair and transparent elections are a must. Fundamentalism or militancy can be defeated only in polls. People of Pakistan have always elected moderate forces whenever free and fair elections have been held.
By propping a military dictator the U.S. has always helped strengthen militancy and fundamentalism. It is time the U.S. recompense the people of Pakistan in particular and other Muslim countries in general by supporting democracies. Pampering dictators in the name of war on terror would fan the flames of war every where.
