Pakistan has descended to anarchy and hopelessness. Benazir went in with eyes wide open. She had to, as otherwsie she would have become irrelevant. She knew the dangers. The waters were shark infested but after the hype she created, she could not turn back. She took a plunge from great heights and paid the price.
Musharaff is obviously feeling the heat. To his credit, he shows great courage. A lesser man would have cracked. Let us give the devil, his due.
We should watch and learn from the travails of Pakistan, Iraq, North Korea etc. Once you are in a shit hole, others cannot do much. There are wheels within wheels. Our politicians are dancing with the wolves, even though many cannot stand or see. So far, the common man has been the hero. "You play dirty amongst yourselves, we know to take care of ourselves" saves him. Unfortunately, politics is based on mudslinging, with our national interests getting a low priority. The only certainty is any new govt will face the same set of problems with the opoosition trying to bring them down.
It is an irony that Pakistan gets so much goodwill and help from Middle East, China etc, but is ever mired in trying to find its destiny. We all have to learn there is no alternative to hard work & disclipline, as China is proving now.
The descent of Pakistan is a lesson to all neighbouring countries not to play with fire, but to believe in the goodness of humanity. Reality will always return with a vengeance.
