* Analyst says election will not prevent extremists’ push to gain influence
WASHINGTON: To be credible, the January 2008 elections must be held in an environment where the constitution has been reinstated, politicians are free to campaign, the media is free to report, and all activists are freed from detention, according to a Heritage Foundation expert.Lisa Curtis, who is to be a member of the International Republican Institute election monitoring team, argues in a paper released this week that while an election will not immediately halt terrorist attacks in Pakistan, nor will it stop the extremists in their push to gain influence and territory in the northwest. She says a strong showing by the mainstream secular parties would demonstrate that the vast majority of Pakistanis do not support the extremist Islamic agenda. This could, in turn, strengthen the public mandate of any future premier acting to combat extremism and terrorism. Political stability in Pakistan and Islamabad’s prosecution of the terrorism war depend on the integrity and credibility of upcoming parliamentary elections, she writes. At the same time, any direct US meddling in the election could backfire. Helping ensure a free and fair process, rather than any specific outcome, should be the core of the US approach, she suggests.Curtis is of the view that the Bush administration should use the opportunity presented by Musharraf’s political accommodation to the opposition to move beyond a policy focused on personalities. She writes, “If a free and fair election is held in January, it will be important for the US government to work effectively with whomever is elected, even as it maintains close ties to the Pakistan military. Most importantly, the US should avoid precipitous, punitive measures, such as cutting military or economic assistance. Washington should be mindful of the impact of the 1990 aid cut-off in Pakistan and how that still causes many Pakistanis to believe that the US is a fickle partner. US aid to Pakistan supports human development activities as well as the Pakistan army’s fight against extremists. Cutting US assistance would embolden Al Qaeda and jeopardise future relations.” khalid hasan
WASHINGTON: To be credible, the January 2008 elections must be held in an environment where the constitution has been reinstated, politicians are free to campaign, the media is free to report, and all activists are freed from detention, according to a Heritage Foundation expert.Lisa Curtis, who is to be a member of the International Republican Institute election monitoring team, argues in a paper released this week that while an election will not immediately halt terrorist attacks in Pakistan, nor will it stop the extremists in their push to gain influence and territory in the northwest. She says a strong showing by the mainstream secular parties would demonstrate that the vast majority of Pakistanis do not support the extremist Islamic agenda. This could, in turn, strengthen the public mandate of any future premier acting to combat extremism and terrorism. Political stability in Pakistan and Islamabad’s prosecution of the terrorism war depend on the integrity and credibility of upcoming parliamentary elections, she writes. At the same time, any direct US meddling in the election could backfire. Helping ensure a free and fair process, rather than any specific outcome, should be the core of the US approach, she suggests.Curtis is of the view that the Bush administration should use the opportunity presented by Musharraf’s political accommodation to the opposition to move beyond a policy focused on personalities. She writes, “If a free and fair election is held in January, it will be important for the US government to work effectively with whomever is elected, even as it maintains close ties to the Pakistan military. Most importantly, the US should avoid precipitous, punitive measures, such as cutting military or economic assistance. Washington should be mindful of the impact of the 1990 aid cut-off in Pakistan and how that still causes many Pakistanis to believe that the US is a fickle partner. US aid to Pakistan supports human development activities as well as the Pakistan army’s fight against extremists. Cutting US assistance would embolden Al Qaeda and jeopardise future relations.” khalid hasan