Pakistan set for another military rule

If the events of the last two weeks are anything to go by we can for sure say that the government in Pakistan seems to be nowhere in control of the country. First the attack on the Sri Lankan team questioning the security of foreign nationals and now the tussle for power between President Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif leading to street protest makes Pakistan look like a hell's kitchen.

The General Ashraf Kiyani led Pakistani Army is keeping a close watch on these events. America is trying to broker a deal between the two leaders in the interest of keeping powers (at least officially) in the hand of a civilian government. But such a deal seems to be a distant dream and Pakistan seems to heading towards another military regime.

The problem between a military takeover now and the one that happened under the leadership of General Musharraf in 1999 is that Pakistani Army no longer controls Pakistan. The sixth largest army in the world has recently signed a deal with the what they call the 'Good Taliban' paving way for imposing Islamic law, or Sharia in North West Frontier Province, including the Swat Valley. The army was so stretched in the war that it finally gave up.

The International community is living in constant fear of extremist elements getting access to Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. Pakistan has become the most dangerous place on the planet and analysts believe it will be the the spot from where the next major military conflict in the world will start. The Pakistani Army and the Government have lost grip over the monster they created to fight the Russians and the Indians.

It is not very surprising that in the last 62 years since its independence and separation from India none of the governments has ever been voted out. Every time it is the 'men in khaki' that have called shots in Pakistan. The hanging of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto by Genaral Zia-ul-Haq is a testimony to the fact that it is a difficult if not impossible task to have democracy in Pakistan.

From India's perspective a military government will not be bad as it will be the centre of power unlike the present civilian government. We should also not forget the fact that relationship between the two countries were pretty good when General Musharraf was in power As for India we have to live with a neighbour which is a synonym to political instability.