Imposing martial law in Pak would be unpopular: US experts

Leading US experts on South Asian affairs are of the unanimous view that imposing martial law in Pakistan would unpopular and could create major complications.

Washington, Aug 22 : Leading US experts on South Asian affairs are of the unanimous view that imposing martial law in Pakistan would unpopular and could create major complications.

Stephen Cohen, who heads the South Asian studies section at the Brookings Institution, said, "I don't see the strategic vision that would indicate that Musharraf use a brief period of martial law, or an emergency on the pretext of political and economic reforms."

Cohen said that Musharraf's dilemma is that he still wants to be liked, but I cannot see how a new martial law that did not move Pakistan forward would improve either his reputation or Pakistan's difficult position."

Teresita Schaffer of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies said, "Any move toward martial law or emergency would hugely complicate Pakistan's relations with the US."

She said that even if the Bush Administration did not react with excessive harshness, it would affect the administration's attitude towards him, and added that the fact is that the US Secretary of State is known to have urged Musharraf not to impose an emergency.

Schaffer said that an emergency or martial law would probably be justified to the outside world on the basis of the extremist threat within Pakistan, but this would be widely regarded in the US and elsewhere as a cover for the real reason, that is Musharraf's determination to remain in power 'at all costs'.

Lisa Curtis of the Heritage Foundation was of the view that the move would be unpopular, both at home and abroad.

The Daily Times quoted Curtis as saying that the imposition of martial law in Pakistan would be a highly unpopular domestically and internationally.

The move would further erode the credibility of Musharraf in the eyes of the Pakistani people and isolate Pakistan internationally, she added.

Curtis maintained, "Imposing emergency would not make it any easier for the Pakistan military to pursue terrorists. In fact, it would likely make Pakistan civil society less supportive of the Pakistan military's operations in the Tribal Areas. In order to fight terrorism."

Curtis concluded that the holding of free and fair polls in Pakistan would help to counter the ideology of the terrorists, who seek to exploit the current political uncertainty to impose a theocratic state.

ANI