Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Strategies & Market Trends : India Coffee House -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: ChinuSFO who wrote (12367)	7/13/2002 9:54:53 AM
From: JPR	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 12475

Paki-style NSC: Tin-star Generals and token civilian clowns One of the reasons why India is keeping the army at the Indo-pak border is that there is a distinct possibility that Musharraff might fall. The future is uncertain and so India should remain alert on the border. The Jihadi elements in the paki military might put a general at the helm and India doesn't know what the next tin-star general would do. So India decides that it is better to keep the guard up for the near future. pakistani situation is in a state of flux and the New York Times reports that Musharaff wants to establish a National Security Council: The centerpiece of General Musharraf's plans - outlined tonight with repeated reminders of the failures of civilian rule - would essentially grant a permanent place in government for the military. The institution would be called the National Security Council, and it would include five generals and six civilians, which he said, surprisingly, would include the leader of the opposition. End NYTimes report in bold letters The presence of the opposition in the Council is a token act to appease the opposition and the civilians. The opposition member and the civilians wouldn't have the guts and gumption to face, fight and bloody the hard-nosed generals, five in number, ready to take the civilians and the opposition member on from any angle. The generals will browbeat the bunch into submission. Or they might even threaten their families. This is democrazy, Pakistani- style. The six civilians and the opposition member will resign just like the former president of Pakistan did at the behest of Musharaff. The the land of the Pure would be back to square one. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dawn.com Opinion Section By Kuldip Nayar today's issue Extract India and Pakistan have to find a way to get away from the present situation so that a dialogue can get off the ground. Once New Delhi makes an announcement that a dialogue could begin soon, the pressure on Musharraf from within his own country will go down. The reported jehadi plot to kill him sounds ominous. Whether we can trust him or not is not as relevant as the situation we may face if he is ousted. At present he has the upper hand but the reports that there are jihadi elements in the army does not augur well for the future. Again, it is not in our interest that Pakistan becomes a failed state. Its weakness can create innumerable problems for India. Islamabad's strength will be in proportion to the steps India takes to normalize the situation. The withdrawal of troops is on the top of western powers' list. New Delhi's intransigence on this point can cost it the support of the international community which has been so consistent in putting pressure on Musharraf and which has been saying that the Line of Control (Loc) is sacrosanct. Nayar: The writer is a freelance columnist based in New Delhi.