Dec 27, 2007: Benazir Bhutto – a prime ministerial candidate for the upcoming elections in Pakistan has been assassinated. The extremists killed her with a suicide bomber. The news has received a world-wide attention, more so in the US media.
Pakistan is in a quagmire. World’s most dangerous nation is in pure chaos! It is a nuclear-armed state and a trusted friend and an ally of USA in the war against terrorism. But paradoxically, Pakistan itself is a hot-bed of extremism and terrorism. And Bhutto’s assassination has strengthened the forces of darkness there. President Parvez Musharraf has somehow been able to succeed USA in believing that he is the only hope for Pakistan and has been able to get flow of unlimited dollars to ‘exterminate’ terrorism and build up Pakistan. USA has been unable to insist for the accountability of the dollars Pak is spending in ‘building up’ the country and we see the turmoil now.
There are a few concerns emerging from the current situation. The way a prime civilian and a politician can be killed in a ruthless manner, shows that there is a ‘jungle-Raj’ there. Is it possible that extremists may get hold of the nuclear arsenal? The US intelligence experts say that we should take this matter seriously. Another point is that US has somehow supported Musharraf’s martial law, and despite its pressure, the civil liberties and media are still not fully liberated. The upcoming elections are believed not to be fair and free under the current situation. Will this killing spark off a diplomatic war between US and Pakistan? Has Musharraf not tested the nerves of his friend Bush? And amidst all this, India’s concerns should not be forgotten: India will be the first target of ‘nuclear mischief’ if Pakistan dares to indulge into, secondly terror export to Indian and neighboring countries is a reality, thirdly mass exodus of Pakistani people to India amid all this chaos.
US media has termed Pakistan as a strategic country in the world. what a misplaced term! Pakistan is ‘strategic’ only because US has been using it as a ‘colony’ to grow its clout and contain India and China.
The assassination of Bhutto should be an eye-opener for the world: Tackle Pakistan before it starts engulfing the world. Rehabilitate it to a civilized and democratic polity. USA can do it, because it feeds the ‘strategic country’ in the world! And hopefully, USA does not remain oblivious to the fact that China and Saudi Arabia will never like Pakistan to develop into a democratic nation, their interest are better served if Pakistan remains an unstable country. China is happy that way from obvious reasons, and Saudi Arabia is happy funding Pakistan to keep the flames of ‘jehad’ alive anywhere , every where in the world!