RIP Pakistan???????

This is not a Fundamentalist spouting out Propoganda. This is not a post of hatred, but rather of fear and tension. The assassination of fomer Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has brought these fears in the minds of people. The assassination of this personality brings forth this frightening scenario of Pakistan ceasing to be a state.

General Pervez Musharraf is now experiencing the troubles that a dictatorship brings upon a nation. Dictatorships have never worked, and due to its very nature, it does bring about reactionary elements. But, the problem with Pakistan is that the reactionary elements are more dreaded than the dictator. If Pervez Musharraf goes, then Pakistan will be consumed by a vacumm filled up with elements suited to the terrorists.

The assassination of Mrs. Bhutto raises furthur questions about short term and long term stability. This is the kind of lose-lose scenario which no nation wants to confront. If the elections are put off, then the aim of the terrorists are achieved and they can continue with weakening the state with attacks. The previous emergency did nothing to stop the attacks. If the elections are held, then there is no guarantee of restoration of Democracy as the main contender to the general is already out. Musharraf comes back to power and the status quo is not changed.

In the short-term, violence seems to be inevitable. Already, Pakistan was beset with problems in the North-west Frontier province and the worsening crisis in Balochistan. To add to the cauldron, there have been sporadic secterian clashes in some cities. Anybody who can get a peaceful solution to this mess must be considered for the next Peace Prize.

Many people are also contemplating about Pakistan's viability as a state. The Islamists in Pakistan have become resurgent ever since the Lal Masjid standoff in July. From that time, the problems have gotten severe, and the Taliban Al-Qaeda hideout in the North-west was intensifying. This resurgence has led to Mrs. Bhutto's assassination. The feebleness of the security forces to actively pursue the radicalists have led to them consolidating their base in Pakistan.

If the Power vacumm occurs, then the whole sub-continent is in big trouble. Pakistan is a nuclear state, and if those weapons fall into the wrong hands, then this will have grave implications for the majority of the world. Being such a strategic location, the repercussions will be far reaching. This angle is now not mere speculation, but an unfortunate possibility.

To usher in destruction, a catalyst is needed. In World War-1, the assassination of Serbian Archduke Franz Ferdinand led to the war. Now, it seems as if Mrs. Bhutto's assassination could be the start of a different kind of struggle, one seen unlike anywhere in the world. But, there is hope that a peaceful solution can come out of this. But, the last statement is quiet feeble, because the scenario is so overwhelmingly dangerous and distraughting.

Maybe, the death of the Bhutto dynasty, more importantly Mrs. Benazir, could also be the death of Pakistan. We really hope that this does not happen.