India's Stake in Pakistan's Return to Democracy

Pakistan has a long history of past military regimes declaring martial law whenever their power was threatened. President Gen. Pervez Musharraf was just following tradition by imposing a state of emergency when the legality of his re-election was to be heard in the apex court, which could have gone against him.

In one stroke, he demolished the judiciary by sacking Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary and replacing him with his own crony. Chaudhary had spearheaded the lawyer's agitation against Musharraf this year for the return of democracy in Pakistan.

In the process, Musharraf also gave himself a reason to postpone January's much awaited elections, which if held, would at least have given Pakistan some semblance of democracy, even if Musharraf were re-elected.

The people of Pakistan have seen it all before — the repressive regimes of times past and the present military regime. Pakistan's checkered history is that of a failed democratic state. They must now be regretting their silent support of Musharraf when he led a coup against the Nawaz Sharif government in 1999.

Until a couple of years ago, most of the people and the press went agog over his charismatic and media savvy personality, and going so far as to declare Musharraf the best thing ever to happen to Pakistan. However, the main credit for Musharraf's hold long hold on power must be given to U.S. President Bush.

Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Musharraf was seen as the United States' best bet for finding Osama Bin Laden and fighting the war terror. In the name of fighting terrorists, Musharraf has milked the USA of billions of dollars of uninterrupted aid — aid that is likely to continue despite Musharraf's imposition of martial law.

For the people of India, Musharraf will always be seen as the architect of the Kargil War and as the leader of a proxy war against India through the unleashing of ISI-sponsored terrorism in India.

The recent spate of terror attacks in Pakistan shows, ironically, that Pakistan is becoming a victim of its own policy of encouraging cross-border terrorism in Kashmir and other parts of India. Pakistan has itself to blame for the mess it finds itself in today.

But the people of Pakistan must be feeling terribly let down by Musharraf, in who they once placed their faith. They must be feeling the same sense of betrayal Indians felt when Musharraf led the Kargil War against us. Although the general is using the fight against terrorism as just one more lame excuse for declaring his state of emergency, many inside and outside of Pakistan believe there is will be no let up in terrorist attacks in that country.

For the people of Pakistan it is going to be one long wait before the country returns to democracy. They will be looking at politicians like Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif to lead the fight against the general. They will also be looking to see how President Bush responds, but how far he can afford to go with U.S. elections not very far off is uncertain.

For India Musharraf's bid to retain power is an opportunity to earn the goodwill of the people of Pakistan by showing solidarity with them. The government of India must use all its resources to bring democracy back to Pakistan by refusing to deal with Musharraf.

India has a stake in Pakistan. If India is to fight cross-border terrorism successfully, then an elected democratic government is the need of the hour in Pakistan.