The world is reacting to the state of emergency and the situation ensuing out of it. The volley of criticism is coming from every direction — from Pakistan’s ally in the war on terror, the US, to one of its major aid donors, Japan. US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte is expected to arrive in Pakistan this week. This certainly puts the government in an awkward situation, which believes it has not faltered in its resolve to fight terror and pave the way for the transformation to democracy. The Commonwealth has given Pakistan a 10-day period to restore the constitution and lift the emergency, failing which Pakistan’s membership will be suspended from the 53-countries group. The statement came in the wake of an urgent meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) in London that charged Pakistan with violating the Commonwealth’s charter. The 10 days have been given to provide the Pakistan government with “a little breathing space”. Pakistan expressed disappointment over this statement and rejected the deadline. The Commonwealth may be termed as an organisation that has not played an effective role in addressing issues plaguing the South Asian countries, but the message given out by the organisation carries a strong political and moral message.

In another development, one of Pakistan’s big donors, Japan, has warned of slashing aid to Pakistan for the military government’s declaring emergency rule and placing Benazir under house arrest. Japan’s threat comes at a time when it was considering an increase in “official development aid” to Pakistan for setting off the democratisation process. Japan had suspended aid to Pakistan in 1998 after the nuclear tests. The assistance was resumed when Pakistan joined the war on terror after 9/11. Those international observers watching the political chaos and wanting to see it end include the International Crisis Group (ICG). The ICG thinks phased sanctions against the government can affect some change in the existing scenario, beginning with suspension of military cooperation and a review of aid for the armed forces. The ICG has given 30 days to the government to lift the emergency and restore the constitution otherwise, it states, the military’s foreign assets may be frozen. While the US, Pakistan’s mentor in the war against terror, has turned its back on Islamabad by expressing serious doubts about how free and fair elections can be held under the shadow of emergency, Britain has not lagged behind. Britain has urged Pakistan to instantly lift the emergency and restore the constitution to enable free elections to be held. Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Joseph Biden has gone as far as saying that the majority of moderates in Pakistan will become extremists if they are not given a voice. Biden, in his wisdom, thinks since Pakistan is engaged in the war on terror, its military does not need fighter aircraft like the F 16s.

There is an impression in the US that President Musharraf is using more resources in smothering his opponents than fighting extremism. This is a wrong signal going to the West. Monitoring the spread of terrorism in parts of Pakistan such as Swat, Western observers seem to have come to the conclusion that success in the war on terror does not depend on President Musharraf being in power. If there was such an assumption, it seems to have gone in the wake of the present political turmoil. The President has taken steps to ensure that there is a peaceful transition to democracy in the country. But his earnest plans to bring in democracy do not seem to be acceptable to the West, especially the US.

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