The strangely bizarre and comical launch of Musharraf’s so called Muslim League (or whatever name he is using) forced me to examine Pakistan. And, believe me, this time; I really looked hard not only at today’s Pakistan but also at its short, but awfully tumultuous history. And, it is extremely distressing to realize that nothing, […]
Zainab Jeewanjee reports on Pervez Musharraf’s planned return to Pakistani politics. With the launch of the All Pakistan Muslim League, Jeewanjee discusses Musharraff’s liberal policies in hindsight and comparison to his opposition and political change seems imminent in the country.
Zainab Jeewanjee reports on Pakistan’s supreme court ruling that the National Reconciliation Ordinance be overturned. Originally put in place by General Pervez Musharraf, NRO will re-open thousands of top government officials corruption cases, but makes current President Asif Ali Zardari the main target of this ruling. Zainab Jeewanjee reports this is politicking in Pakistan as the Supreme Court’s ambitions may be more than noble: as the Foreign Policy Magazine notes, they could be a means to settling a political score with current leadership.
Pakistans mlitary headquarters are attacked by militants in October 2009, at the heels of a sweeping offensive against terrorists in South Waziristan. This also comes as the Kerry-Lugar bill/Enhanced Partnership Act of Pakistan is hotly debated in Pakistan. There are concerns that the bill invades sovereignty, will fail as a result of corruption and undermines the military. Senator Kerry dispels those myths in a report published by his office last week and Zainab Jeewanjee elucidates the situation on both ends.
United States Senate passes the Kerry-Lugar bill tripling foreign aid to Pakistan for “sustainable development” purposes and counterterrorism/counterinsurgency assistance. This comes as both the United States and Pakistan struggle in defeating terrorism in the region. The bill specifies up to $1,5,000,000 through 2013 annually as President Obama revamps our strategy in dealing with the Af-Pak quagmire.
Every time I write something about Asif Zardari, Pakistan’s current president, I get tons of e-mail condemning me for ‘supporting’ him. So, once again, I have to clarify something from the start. I am not a supporter of Zardari. However, if one looks at the history of President’s in Pakistan, Zardari will stand out as […]