Things have quietened down in Pakistan a bit, and there is some sense of comfort particularly in world capitals where concern about Pakistan generally hangs heavy. These include Washington and New Delhi. And what is the source of this comfort? That events of the last week have shown that when the chips are down, the (Pakistani) army is always around. That it is an institution that provides Pakistan stability and, surprise of surprises, moderation. It is fighting fundamentalists in the west, and cleaning up its act in the east (bordering India). Further, that Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani, the new army chief, is a moderate. He speaks little, and has made no secret of his aversion to soldiers getting caught up in politics. So far, so good. But what is the subtext?

That somehow it is politicians who are responsible for the mess in Pakistan. They are the ones to have brought it instability, religious extremism, anger on its streets and fear in the minds of its friends.

Now it is vital to question this dangerous presumption that an army can be a force for moderation, stability and modernism whereas popular politics must be its opposite — although that presumption has been made in the past from Turkey to Algeria though, significantly, mostly in countries with an Islamic majority. But that is not the significant issue here. The important issue is the most obvious corollary of this presumption, that, therefore, popular politics is the opposite of all this and, further, that the future of Pakistan would remain secure if political, “elected” leaders continue to function under the army’s overall supervision. This is another version of guided democracy, and with elections now expected on February 18, it seems to have international endorsement. The world feels much safer with Musharraf, with Kiyani in his side-car, than with some lesser known character from Pakistan’s messy politics. Musharraf and his generals are to be trusted more with the nukes, with their control over the ISI and its dropouts and rogue elements, with their promises, and with their commitment to a modern, forward-looking, even pro-West (which, ironically, also suits India now) Pakistan.

... contd.