Members of the Pakistani government are moving ahead with plans to impeach president and former head of the Pakistani military Pervez Musharraf. Two political parties, the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, are pushing for impeachment proceedings that could cause the collapse of the Pakistani government.
The Old Pakistan-U.S. Alliance
Immediately after al Qaeda launched its most famous terrorist attack against the United States on September 11, 2001, the Bush Administration put the Pakistani government, headed by Musharraf, on notice: the war on terror has begun—you’re either with us or against us. The choice is yours.
Musharraf, understanding the gravity of the situation and the seriousness of the American ultimatum, signed Pakistan on as a U.S. ally in the Global War on Terrorism. Support was provided in various forms, including over flight rights, intelligence sharing, and crackdowns on militant Islamic elements within Pakistan.
Musharraf walked a thin line in the years that followed, doing just enough to satisfy the Bush Administration while taking great precautions to not put his own position in jeopardy by taking too hard a stance against Islamic radicals. Ultimately, this balancing act had to end, and a series of Musharraf’s actions led to the diminishment of his power in parliamentary elections.
The New Way Forward
Gains in power and influence by the Pakistan People’s Party, led by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto until her assassination, and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, have led of late to attempts to negotiate with Islamic militants and increased danger not only to Pakistan, but also to the Karzai government in Afghanistan and to coalition troops operating in Afghanistan.
While Musharraf has proven to be an ally in the War on Terror, even if not the best ally for achieving American aims, it is less certain that the new Pakistani government would continue the level of support provided to the United States over the past seven years.
Pakistan is extremely fragile right now, with an active Islamic insurgency and a government in turmoil. Even the Pakistani military, which has traditionally served as the guarantor of the state, has seen its power diminished. Even if it were able to act from a position of strength, it is not clear in which direction the military, long faithful to Musharraf, would go.
A successful impeachment of Pervez Musharraf could throw the entire country into chaos and put several aspects of the NATO-led coalition effort in Afghanistan at risk.
