[The Telegraph, U.K.]
Financial Times Deutschland, Germany
Pakistan:
Preventing a Nuclear-Armed Taliban
Now after the murder of Bhutto,
the West must become more engaged: those who want to prevent another Afghanistan but this time a nuclear armed one must put Pakistan at the very top of their list of priorities.
EDITORIAL
Translated By Ulf Behncke
December 28,
2007
Germany
- Financial Times Deutschland - Original Article (German)
Up to now, the situation in Pakistan appeared to be on a better trajectory. After weeks of
unrest, the situation in the country had calmed down somewhat. President Pervez Musharraf had lifted the
state of emergency and abandoned the post of army chief of the nuclear nation.
The murder of Bhutto again throws Pakistan into chaos.
Initially, hopes had risen
that parliamentary elections scheduled for early January could stabilize the
country. In a single stroke, all of these hopes have been squelched. The deadly
attack on opposition leader Benazir Bhutto will strengthen those who have no
interest in calming the situation. If the assassin most likely from the
radical Islamic milieu intended to plunge Pakistan into chaos once more, things have gone as planned.
Its not yet clear what the
long-term consequences will be of this symbolic triumph for the terrorists.
What is apparent, however, is that the enemies of a democratic form of
government have taken an important step toward the Talibanization
of Pakistan. If the authoritarian ruler Musharraf fails to get a grip on the
situation, another permanent crisis looms in this already-troubled region.
This is an alarming prospect
- not only for Pakistan itself but for the West as well. So far Americans and
Europeans have limited themselves to pampering their allies with billions in
assistance but have otherwise kept out of the fight between the Pakistani
government and the fast-strengthening Islamists. Now after the murder of
Bhutto, the West must become more engaged: those who want to prevent another Afghanistan but this time a nuclear armed one must put Pakistan at the very top of their list of priorities.
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for German Version
