Pardon My Politics

Nearly two months after historic elections led to the first peaceful democratic transfer of power in Pakistan’s 60-year history, a window of opportunity exists to stabilize the country. The challenges are immense and interrelated, and the dynamic situation in Pakistan requires immediate attention. The United States needs to work with Pakistan’s leaders and other countries to help them take advantage of this opening to achieve progress on security, political and economic fronts. Major questions loom unanswered after the election: Will President Pervez Musharraf stay in office for a full term? Will judicial independence be achieved? Will the relative calm in the security situation that has existed since the February national elections hold? And perhaps the question that most directly impacts the lives of