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Pakistan Army Dominant Since Nation Born By STEPHEN GRAHAM – 9 hours ago ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan's army has led the country for more than half of its 60-year history and dominated — or ended — the fragile rule of the few civilian governments to take office. The country's position on the front line of America's war on terror and the army's increasing involvement in the economy suggest the generals are well-equipped to defend their privileges — and may be reluctant to share them in the name of democracy. Officers and their families have their own upscale schools, hospitals...

Like the old country song says, I dug Musharraf when Musharraf wasn't cool I'm glad Gen. Musharraf was able to take time out of his hectic book tour to meet with President Bush at the White House. As far as I know, the plug-circuit-cum-state-visit is a new phenomenon on the international scene: the Queen didn't attempt to squeeze in her golden jubilee events in between promoting "Diana & Me: The True Story" on Oprah and Barbara Walters. But Pakistan's head of government looked more comfortable with Jon Stewart than he did at a clenched teeth Washington dinner with Hamid Karzai....

The silent tug of war between Islamists and Reformists in the Pakistan army reaches a boiling point as a hapless Musharraf's enlightened moderation yields way to extreme measures. The notion that all is not well in the Pakistan Army has been reinforced with the unprecedented execution on August 20, 2005, of Abdul Islam Siddiqui, a member of the armed forces, on charges of plotting to assassinate President General Pervez Musharraf in collaboration with the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) The Military Court documents identify the executed soldier as Abdul Islam Siddiqui (Army No. 8831068) of the Defence Services Guard Company attached to the Punjab Regiment,...

Just a year ago, Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, promised to shed his uniform and give up his position as head of the armed forces by the end of 2004. It seems unlikely he'll will meet that pledge. Musharraf made the promise as part of a deal under which opposition parties validated his presidency and accepted constitutional amendments that added to the president's powers. The opposition (and U.S. commentators) started beating the drums about Musharraf's "broken promise" weeks ago. The main Islamist party, the United Action Assembly (MMA), has staged a number of demonstrations.... Musharraf has also come under pressure...