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With all the work Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has been putting into rebuilding the country’s shattered economic and political landscape, you’d think he was about to start an election campaign. His recent 18-day US-European tour netted him much goodwill, a lifting of a freeze of defense sales to Pakistan from Germany, and a promise for $3 billion in US economic aid (although no delivery F-16s previously paid for). On the front with India, tensions have eased enough for a restoring of ambassador posts, resumption of Pakistan-India cricket matches, and reopening of transit links between the countries. Musharraf has even been making nightly patrols of Karachi’s beaches in order to stress crime-reduction efforts. “There is no law and order problem in Pakistan,” said Musharraf to nervous French investors during his trip abroad. “That is in the past now.” Not so fast, Pervez. Attacks on religious minorities in the last few days have claimed over 50 lives, as militant groups upset with Musharraf’s cosiness with the West try to derail the train to stability. In one attack, over 50 Shi’a Muslims in Quetta were killed in a suicide attack. Another attack claimed the life of a Roman Catholic priest in Pakistan’s embattled Christian community. Despite pointing the finger at “foreign” involvement in the crimes (namely India and Taliban remnants), Pakistan is cracking down on militant groups at home, blaming them for ruining Pakistan’s image abroad. “This looks pretty bad,” said Pakistani economist Arshad Arif, “particularly in the context that President Musharraf was just telling French investors that things are normal.”
Shahed Amanullah is editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com.
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