Bhutto emphasises not only a return to democracy but also a coalition of the modernist forces to defeat the growing extremism in Pakistan. And that the second cannot succeed without the first. Bhutto, however, recognises the tension between these two objectives.

A focus on democracy alone could result in the religious parties hijacking the popular protests against Musharraf. An exclusive emphasis on political moderation gives a free hand to the army.

As Pakistan struggles to find a new direction for itself, there is no difficulty in laying out India’s own enduring interests across the border — a democratic and modern Pakistan that is in harmony with its neighbours. In the real world, Indian diplomacy should be tempered by one sobering thought — we do not have the power to “define” the internal politics of Pakistan.

New Delhi can, however, “contribute” to the positive evolution of Pakistan in four ways: A reassurance that India will not meddle in Pakistan’s internal affairs; a reaffirmation of the commitment to find an early solution to the Kashmir question, irrespective of who rules Islamabad; an offer to work with Pakistan and Afghanistan in stabilising the north western parts of the subcontinent, and an openness to engage with all the political forces in Pakistan.

The writer is a professor at the Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore