By NNN-PTI
New York : Noting that the al-Qaeda and Taliban have made Pakistan their “most important rear base”, a leading US daily Friday said the assassination of former Premier Benazir Bhutto is “yet another horrifying reminder” of how far the country is from democracy and stability.
Bhutto’s death, ‘the New York Times’ stressed in an editorial, leaves the Bush administration with no visible strategy for extricating Pakistan from its crisis or rooting out al-Qaeda and the Taliban which have made the country their “most important rear base.”
Pointing out that betting America’s security and Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal on an “unaccountable military dictator” Pervez Musharraf did not work, it said President George W Bush has no option but to fortify Pakistan’s badly battered democratic institutions without waste of any time.
“With next month’s parliamentary elections (in Pakistan) already scrambled, Washington must now call for new ground rules to assure a truly democratic vote,” the Times said.
Similar sentiments were expressed in newspaper reports and comments across the US as analysts on TV debated future of the country without any charismatic leader, increasing unpopularity of Musharraf and dilemma of Bush administration what to do next.
They also debated the effect that it would have on the Iowa caucuses scheduled for January 3, stressing it might put candidates with foreign policy experience and credentials for fighting terrorism at an advantage.
Describing Bhutto as “flawed and undeniably courageous” leader, the Times said her return had raised hopes that her country might find a way towards democracy and stability. But with her death, betting America’s security and Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal on a “back-room alliance” between Musharraf and Bhutto, who had hoped to win a third term as prime minister, is no longer possible.