Posted on 12/02/2010 7:16:12 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Q+A-U.S. cables show Pakistan military's political strength
Thu Dec 2, 2010
By Augustine Anthony
ISLAMABAD Dec 2 (Reuters) - U.S. diplomatic cables released by whistle-blower WikiLeaks underscore the clout Pakistan's army has in shaping politics in one of Washington's most strategic allies.
Here are some of questions and answers on the issues raised by dispatches posted on the website of Britain's Guardian newspaper.
HOW TIGHT IS THE PAKISTANI MILITARY'S GRIP ON POWER?
Generals have led Pakistan for more than half of its 63-year history. The military has maintained wide sway foreign and security polices even during civilian rule.
Although the United States supports democracy in Pakistan, it has no illusions about who runs the country. The current army chief, General Ashfaq Kayani, a former head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, has said he would keep the military out of Pakistan's politics and would support democracy.
In March 2009, a cable by U.S. ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson highlighted the military's perception of its influence in nuclear-armed Pakistan, when lawyers were planning a long march in a political crisis that threatened President Asif Ali Zardari's government.
"During ambassador's fourth meeting in a week with Chief of Army Staff General Kayani on March 10, he again hinted that he might, however reluctantly, have to persuade President Zardari to resign if the situation sharply deteriorates."
WHAT IS THE PAKISTANI MILITARY'S APPROACH TO POLITICS? Kayani is a low-profile military man said to be well-regarded by his U.S. counterparts. He is a shrewd political operator, working behind the scenes to avoid political turmoil that has plagued Pakistan throughout its history.
Patterson's cable noted Kayani's approach.
"Kayani is trying to leverage what he considers predominate U.S. influence over Zardari, instead of seeking direct confrontation that could provoke an unhelpful civil-military clash," it
(Excerpt) Read more at af.reuters.com ...
"Every Country has Army, Pakistan Army has a country"
... formerly said about the Kingdom of Prussia back in the 18th Century. It sure fits Pakistan.
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