Pakistan

How scary is it that a country with a sizeable arsenal of nuclear weapons is on a 'red alert' because of mounting instability? This is even more scary than the Cuban Missile crisis. Benazir Bhutto is killed. Nobody really knows by whom. It is too easy to point to an amorphous group of 'Islamic fundamentalists.' President Musharaff who has been the center of attention in these last three months condemns the killing... So, Benazir Bhutto's return to homeland just months ago (see on this blog) did not end well for her. But she came back because of talks with Musharaff about power-sharing. Musharaff has culpability for some of this. Of course, there are many versions as to who was most interested in getting rid of Benazir Bhutto-- none of them are fully convincing (see here). (for a story)

Instability, violence and militantism. Now Pakistan is following the footsteps of Iraq and has turned into a hot spot. Definitely Bhutto was a brave woman to have dared to go to Pakistan and try to do something good for her country. Like a butterfly she went to the fire...

Solution for Pakistan?

Benazir Bhutto's (born in 1953) return to Pakistan has been met with sensation and emotional upheavals by her mass supporters, as well powerful bomb blasts by her opponents. People are celebrating and are in the streets, while the opposition is in despair. (Full story) After the recent problems associated with Musharaff's rule in the country, there is a talk of power-sharing with Ms. Bhutto, who is expected to take up the post of Prime Minister. Musharaff is not popular, Bhutto is, despite her controversial political background.

She is the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the PM in Pakistan in the early 70s. Like Nehru-Gandhi family in India, the Bhutto family is a well known dynasty in Pakistan. Bhutto's political career had many ups and downs, the downs as a result of charges of widespread corruption. After the political fall and execution of her father, she fled and set up the People's Party in London. In 1986 she returned to Pakistan and in 1988 she became the first democratically elected female leader in an Islamic country. Twice a prime minister of Pakistan (1988-1990) and (1993-1996), she is seen as a symbol of motherhood and endurance.

Given her political character, it is highly unlikely she will settle for low profile power-sharing. But since she is popular, her presence would perhaps be a solution to the current situation in Pakistan after Musharaff's open defiance of the rule of law.