References

TEST 3

International intervention needed in Pakistan: experts

AM - Monday, 31 December, 2007 08:04:00

Reporter: Jane Hutcheon

ELEANOR HALL: Pakistan's President, Pervez Musharraf, is blaming al-Qaeda for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

But analysts say her death has exposed the massive weaknesses in the Government's security capability and the extent to which military rule has weakened the country's institutions.

Europe correspondent Jane Hutcheon reports.

JANE HUTCHEON: A week before Benazir Bhutto was killed, at least 50 Pakistanis died in a suicide attack on a mosque in the north-west of the country.

The outgoing Interior Minister, who was in the congregation, was believed to be the target. He escaped.

It was one of a spate of attacks in the past six months aimed at leading figures: anyone involved in the campaign, backed by Western governments against Islamist militants.

Husain Haqqani of Boston University's Centre for International Relations was former a political adviser in Pakistan. He said, apart from remote tribal areas, there isn't widespread support for the militants.

HUSAIN HAQQANI: They have essentially, historically been supported and nurtured by Pakistan's security services, which saw them as allies in their war against India, and subsequently in their war of trying to gain influence in Afghanistan. Now they have gone out of control, but that is their real strength.

JANE HUTCHEON: From bases in the lawless border regions, al-Qaeda and pro-Taliban militants have unleashed a stream of suicide bombings and violence, responsible for more than 600 deaths in the past half year.

Author Joshua Hammer.

JOSHUA HAMMER: The number of suicide attacks in Pakistan, not just along the border but throughout the country, in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi, have grown tremendously. So I think that the army is losing that battle.

JANE HUTCHEON: Some commentators believe that military rule has weakened the country's institutions, so that events such Benazir Bhutto's assassination simply create more fragility.

Husain Haqqani of Boston University has advice for Pakistan's Western backers.

HUSAIN HAQQANI: The most important thing for the United States, and other backers of Pakistan, is to recognise that the Pakistani military and the intelligence services are not the solution to Pakistan's problems, they are the cause of Pakistan's problems. And the reason why Pakistan is so poor is because Pakistan invests more in its military than it does in its people.

JANE HUTCHEON: But John Bolton, the former US representative to the United Nations, believes the threat of major instability confronting Pakistan warrants international backing.

JOHN BOLTON: It's very unstable, and I think historical judgement here requires that you look at a situation like this and say when you are on the edge of chaos, potentially, what do you do to pull back from the edge.

JANE HUTCHEON: John Bolton.

The other issue of course is that Pakistan is a nuclear power and there are grave fears this capability could fall into rogue hands.

Six years after Western powers waged the multi-pronged battle against Islamist militants, and enlisted Pakistan's support, progress would appear to be painfully slow.

This is Jane Hutcheon in London for AM.

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