Pakistan
Pakistan was born as an explicitly Muslim state, and the wrestling between its secular and Islamic natures has never been so pronounced as in recent years. The country's other troubling traditions are the military's role as the arbiter of power — there have been four coups in its 60 years of independence — rampant corruption and waves of economic and political unrest. Upon its creation, Pakistan consisted of two separate wings flanking northern India; in 1971, the country's eastern portion broke away to become Bangladesh.
In recent years the areas of disagreement between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, a divided state claimed by both countries, appear to have narrowed, but it remains the main point of friction between them. Kashmir was at the heart of two of three wars they have fought since 1947. Both sides reject independence for Kashmir and the long dispute continues to fester — with greater stakes since Pakistan became a nuclear power in 1998, in response to nuclear tests conducted by India.
The last two years have been tumultuous even by Pakistan's standards, as the country's military ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, was forced from power. He was replaced by neither of his longtime rivals, Nawaz Sharif or Benazir Bhutto, who was killed by a bomb at a campaign rally. A tide of strong emotion swept her party into power in parliamentary elections in February 2008, and her widower, Asif Ali Zardari, became president in September.
General Musharraf's tenure was dominated by the aftermath of the Sept. 11th attacks, by political instability and the rise of Islamic extremist groups.
Pakistan's intelligence services and portions of the military had been backers of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. After 9/11, the United States demanded that Pakistan turn against the Taliban and al Qaeda. Mr. Musharaff agreed, but then walked a tightrope between satisfying the Bush administration without inflaming Islamic groups that strongly support al Qaeda. The mountains of western Pakistan became haven for Al Qaeda and the Taliban and a launching pad for increasing numbers of extremist attacks within Pakistan.
Mr. Musharraf's downfall began with his attempt to force out the chief justice of Pakistan's Supreme Court in the spring of 2007, which was widely protested. Mr. Musharraf was forced to backtrack. Under pressure from the Bush administration, he began negotiations with Ms. Bhutto, a former prime minister then in exile, about a power sharing agreement.
No agreement was reached, and on Nov. 3, fearing that the reinstated court was about to rule against him, Mr. Musharraf declared a state of emergency. Hundreds of political opponents were arrested and a majority of the Supreme Court was forced to resign.
On Nov. 28, 2007, Mr. Musharraf gave up his military rank, and two weeks later ended emergency rule. By that time, Ms. Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister Mr. Musharraf had deposed, were vigorously campaigning against Mr. Musharraf in the run up to parliamentary elections.
On Dec. 27, Ms. Bhutto was killed by a bomb detonated as she left a large rally, throwing the country into deep mourning. The parliamentary election was postponed until February 2008, when Mr. Musharraf's party was routed. Mr. Zardari and Mr. Sharif formed a governing coalition, which in August declared that it would seek the impeachment of Mr. Musharraf. On Aug. 18, Mr. Musharraf announced his resignation.
The coalition dissolved over the unwillingness of Mr. Zardari to reinstate the Supreme Court members forced out by Mr. Musharraf, and in September Mr. Zardari was elected president. He promptly launched an aggressive campaign against the Taliban in the western provinces.
On top of its other troubles, the global financial crisis hit Pakistan hard. In November, the International Monetary Fund offered a $7 billion loan.
