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IBNLive Chat: Pak govt might not last full term
Published on Wed, Mar 26, 2008 at 03:53, Updated at Thu, Mar 27, 2008 in World section
Tags: IBNLive Chat, Rezaul H Laskar
UNEASY PATH: The security situation will be the biggest challenge for new PM Yousuf Raza Gillani.
Other stories in the section:
Chat Now: With Rezaul H Laskar on Pakistan and its future
Rezaul H Laskar on what Zardari-raj in Pakistan means for India.
With the Musharraf regime coming to an end, a new wave of democracy is sweeping over Pakistan. The PPP has come to power and after weeks of speculation has announced that Yousuf Raza Gilani would be the new Prime Minister of the country.
However, will Gilani be a mere puppet in the hands of PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari? Will Pakistan's stand vis-a-vis India change? And what awaits President Musharraf? Rezaul H Laskar, PTI's Chief Correspondent in Islamabad answers these and more.
Anurag Awasthi: Do you really think that Pakistan today has any leader in comparison to the stature of President Musharraf? Which leader in Pakistan could have handled the Lal Masjid issue or which leader in Pak would have had the courage to launch a war on terror post 9/11 or the CBM initiated by President with India? And I strongly feel that Indian sub-continent had only two statesman – Mr Vajpayee and President Musharraf – and it is ironic that both are out of power at present. It was only because he was heading Pak in the turbulent times (9/11) when Islamophobia was gripping the world that Pakistan has not gone the way of Iraq.
Rezaul H Laskar: I do think that Pakistan today has some very promising leaders who are willing and able to strike out on a distinctive path without the baggage of the past.
Unfortunately, the political parties in Pakistan, like their counterparts in India, have not groomed a second line of younger leaders. However, the trend does now seem to be changing and there are capable people who can take the country forward. There is no doubt that leaders like Vajpayee and Musharraf played a key role in shaping bilateral ties but this is possibly the time to see what the next generation of leaders has to offer on issues like Kashmir.
Prakash Sharma: Every one in Pakistan is now anti-Musharraf. I wonder how suddenly the people of Pakistan suddenly forgot him who did so much for them by getting enormous funds from USA. Today, the image of Pakistan is much better then what it was earlier. Please comment.
Rezaul H Laskar: While President Musharraf might have played a key role in the war on terror, he has become increasingly unpopular among his own people for a variety of reasons, especially spiralling inflation and crippling shortages of gas, electricity and flour. Despite this, the President does still have his supporters though he is no longer as powerful as he once was.
Joseph T A: How will the new government affect the relations between India and Pakistan? Do you see any improvement in the security situation within Pakistan after this?
Rezaul H Laskar: The security situation will probably be the biggest challenge for the new government led by PM Yousuf Raza Gillani. Once the government gets things like its relationship with Musharraf and the reinstatement of the judges out of the way, it will have to get down to the difficult task of stopping the devastating wave of suicide attacks and bombings across the country and tackling the Pakistani Taliban. It will be particularly interesting to watch how it deals with pressure from the US for hard steps against the militants with demands from coalition partners like the Awami National Party for talks with the rebels, including the Pakistani Taliban.
As for ties with India, Zardari has given some indications in his recent comments but I personally feel he will have a hard time convincing the hard-line elements about his views.
Vatjois: Dear Rezaul, for years the very word 'Pakistan' sounds like guns, bombs, extremism, terror. At last, are these conditions changing and is it possible to hear words like 'IT', 'BT', etc?
Rezaul H Laskar: Yes, for far too long, Pakistan has been associated with things like bombings and extremism, but there are also lots of normal, average, peace-loving people among Pakistan's population of 160 million. Things like IT, BT and earning a livelihood and living in peace are very important for the common people in Pakistan. India's massive strides in the economic arena are something that a lot of people would like to emulate. There is a tremendous desire for change, especially among the young.
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Whats the deal with Gilani being the interim prime minister? There were news reports saying that Asif Ali Zardari would
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