Musharraf used militias to further his own ambitions in India, Afghanistan

President General Musharraf, the Pakistan Army, and the elite have a long history of bolstering Islamic right as a bulwark against the working class and of using various militias to further the countrys and their own geo-political ambitions in Afghanistan and India, claims Keith Jones in an article for the World Socialist Website.

Washington, July 23 : President General Musharraf, the Pakistan Army, and the elite have a long history of bolstering Islamic right as a bulwark against the working class and of using various militias to further the country's and their own geo-political ambitions in Afghanistan and India, claims Keith Jones in an article for the World Socialist Website.

According to Jones, the Musharraf regime has proclaimed a war with "Islamic extremism" due to the US pressure to act tough against militants, and a desire to pre-empt the Talibanisation of Pakistan, as it would hamper the interest of the country's elite.

The analysis further claims that there is a mounting public anger in Pakistan over Musharraf's alliance with the US, because Washington has for decades armed and supported military rule in Pakistan.

"Pakistani elite is angered that the military, its crony politicians and various business insiders have used their control of government to unduly monopolise state patronage, the benefits from US aid, and the business opportunities arising from privatisation," the Daily Times quoted Jones, as saying.

Commenting on the Supreme Court's decision to reinstate Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Jones says the apex court ruling constitutes a stunning rebuke for Musharraf, which can only embolden popular opposition to his military rule.

Everyone knows that Musharraf calls the shots in Pakistan and to say that he was constitutionally bound to follow the advice of his Prime Minister to take action against the chief justice as "farcical", adds Jones.

"Facing a myriad of domestic and international challenges, the Musharraf regime is increasingly emitting a 'fin de regime' stench, while lashing out periodically with deadly violence, he concludes.

ANI