Musharrafs decision to deport Sharif exposes flaws in system: US expert

The deportation of former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif might give President Musharraf some short-term relief, but the action exposes the weaknesses and flaws of the current system, a South Asia expert claims.

Washington, Sep 13 : The deportation of former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif might give President Musharraf some short-term relief, but the action exposes the weaknesses and flaws of the current system, a South Asia expert claims.

"The fact that the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Shairf's return, and that he was bold enough to attempt to return to the country, indicates how much the political tide is shifting in Pakistan," says Lisa Curtis of the Heritage Foundation.

It is important that elections are held on schedule and that the broader Pakistani population sees these elections as credible, she added.

Commenting on America's role, Curtis said, "The visit of Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte demonstrates the importance the US places on its relationship with Pakistan."

"I think there was concern that recent statements about US unilateral military action in Pakistan's tribal areas as well as new American legislation that conditions military aid to Pakistan were creating doubts in the minds of Pakistanis about the US long-term commitment to Pakistan," the Daily Times quoted Curtis, as saying.

Curtis believed that the primary purpose behind the visit was to shore up relations in a broader sense with Pakistan and to signal continued US interest in a long-term, strategic relationship.

She however, described it as unfortunate that the visit occurred in the same week that Sharif was deported, as many Pakistanis will conflate their anger against Musharraf with the US.

The US needs to keep a lower profile during this time of political crisis in Pakistan so that it is not perceived as trying to influence events in its own favour, Curtis asserted.

There is a tendency in Pakistan to attribute everything that happens in the country to American influence, and so the US must take care to not feed that misperception, she said.

ANI