The End of a Short Fuse

When General Musharraf visits India next month to enjoy the cricket matches currently taking place between the two countries, opportunity will present itself like never before.

Time is fast running out between India and Pakistan to solve the ongoing crisis in Kashmir. Several indicators events and indicators point towards an extremely unpleasant end to the ongoing mess. Musharraf is a smart man. His goals and means may be questionable for some, but he remains India's best hope to cure this long festering wound.

The first indicator that we live with borrowed time, is the multiple attempts last year on General Musharraf's life. Hardliners in Pakistan know that he will ultimately bow to pressures from the US to rid Pakistan of it's terrorist hideouts. Which brings me to the crux of this issue - without Musharraf, Pakistan lacks a strong leader who not only currently enjoys the reins of power - but uniquely - also enjoys the support of the all powerful army. Without him, we've lost our best bet of pulling the plug on terrorist groups who continue to make merry in the lawless border regions of PoK.

A recent CIA report predicted that unless dramatic turnarounds take place, Pakistan would join the growing list of failed states within a decade. An age old adage goes like this - if your neighbour's house is on fire - you help him put it out. A failed state in Pakistan could mean at the worst - a massive humanitarian crisis involving over 180 million people 0r at best (sic) a civil war. It would also mean an almost uncontrolled rush of terrroist groups gravitating to that country to use it as a base. Each situation would demand that India intervene - and with our own problems at home, it is something we can ill afford.

The prudent thing to do would be to prevent such a situation from taking place at all. Once again - helping President Musharraf as best we can seems our only way out.

Time isn't on our side and continued squabbling over the fact that he is a dictator would mean losing out on the one great chance we've got to put behind nearly 60 years of violence, hatred and bloodshed. The US understands that Musharraf is Pakistan's best bet - It's about time India pulled aside the stumbling blocks of rhetoric and ego and acknowledged that it's now or never.

I hope that the match that President Musharraf is scheduled to watch ends in a tie - politically. As far as the cricket goes - COME ON INDIA!!! :D