Political turmoil in Pakistan undermining terrorism war

Just a day after he warned that the war on terrorism is being lost, the leader of the main party in Pakistan’s five-month-old ruling coalition found himself in the midst of a political crisis that could provide Islamist extremist groups, including al-Qaida and the Taliban, a foothold in the frontline of that war.

Pakistan’s role as America’s chief ally in the global terror war, declared by President Bush shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, has been unquestioned. Now, however, there is cause for concern. Attacks by Taliban militiamen have intensified in the tribal areas along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, while gunmen opened fire on the top U.S. diplomat in northwestern Pakistan, Lynne Tracy, an Ohio native. Tracy is the principal officer for the U.S. consulate in Peshawar.

There also has been an increase in suicide bombings.

All this comes amid the collapse of the governing coalition, which has left the party led by former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto until her assassination last December in a position to dominate the government.

The only bright spot in this otherwise bleak picture is the fact that Bhutto’s party is committed to ridding Pakistan of Islamic extremists, who were responsible for the former prime minister’s death.

Presidential election

Her widower and political successor, Asif Ali Zardari, has announced that he will run in the Sept. 6 presidential election. The presidency became vacant with the resignation of Pervez Musharraf, who had established close ties with President Bush. Musharraf was facing impeachment by parliament stemming from his suspension of the constitution and his firing of the high court’s justices.

The governing coalition’s collapse was triggered by a disagreement among the parties over the return of the justices.

The Bush administration, which has been pressing Pakistan to toughen its stance against the Taliban, must not let the political turmoil spin out of control. If a power vacuum occurs, Islamic religious radicals who have been pushing for a theocracy similar to the one in Iran could well make a play for the government.

Such a move is fraught with danger. Not only would the extremists have control of a country with offensive nuclear weapons aimed at arch rival India, but it would embolden the Taliban to step up military operations in Afghanistan.

The Taliban was ousted from power by coalition forces, led by the United States, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America’s homeland.

A democratically elected government under President Hamid Karzai is now in power, but its position is tenuous at best given the success of the Taliban’s resurgence.

It is clear that the Bush administration cannot permit Pakistan to be led by individuals who are committed to the destruction of America and her allies.

If Bhutto’s widower is successful in next month’s presidential election, he deserves the full support of the White House.

However, questions have been raised about Zardari’s fitness to hold office in the wake of a British newspaper’s report that his lawyers told a London court that he suffered from serious mental problems.

What is going on in Pakistan portends disaster — unless the U.S. and other western nations offer to mediate a political settlement.