by MONITOR
BEFORE the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington in September 2001, Pakistan was something of a pariah state. Its membership of the Commonwealth had been suspended because of a military coup led by General Musharraf and economic sanctions were being operated by the United States. But as soon as the Twin Towers were attacked and the terrorists identified as being based in Afghanistan, General Musharraf found himself in an advantageous position since his country borders Afghanistan; the United States wanted to be able to establish bases there for its campaign against the Taleban. Suddenly sanctions were lifted and Pakistan became a respectable member of the community of nations. Not even the subsequent revelation that the head of Pakistan's nuclear programme had personally given nuclear secrets and materials to Libya, Iran and perhaps North Korea, ruptured the new-found friendship between the United States and Pakistan. The Commonwealth did not move quite so quickly but in May it re-admitted Pakistan on condition that the parliamentary democracy overthrown by General Musharraf would be restored and that he would resign from his army post while acting as preszident.
PAKISTAN PROBLEMS
24/10/2004 00:00
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