August 22nd, 2008 by Amanda

As the combined military-presidential rule of Pervez Musharraf has come to a close many are questioning where Pakistan is headed. The Economist writes that “Mr Musharraf goes at a time of alarming instability in Pakistan”, and that to maintain cohesiveness “Pakistan needs confidence in its democratic system, including its capacity to keep its army in check.”

On a further discussion of the nation’s stability, Rayyan al Shawaf at the Daily Star examines the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan and their alleged connections to Islamic extremists. Shawaf asserts that the ISI has “emerged as a heavily ideological institution dedicated more to fighting Islam’s foes than ensuring Pakistan’s security.”

Anatol Lieven at the National Interest thinks that the fears of Pakistan’s imminent collapse are overblown, as “the situation in Pakistan is not nearly as bad as the more hysterical sections of the Western media would have it. ” Lieven does, however, recognize the constraints of rapid inflation on the economy as well as the increasing instability in the boarder region with Afghanistan. Juan Cole at Informed Comment discusses Pakistan’s Musharraf’s possible successor and Steve Clemons interviews Ambassador Haqqani at the Washington Note.

Posted in Pakistan, Political Parties, US foreign policy |