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Pakistan isi link { March 19 2002 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50D12FD3E5C0C7A8DDDAA0894DA404482www.nytimes.com/2002/03/19/international/asia/19STAN.html
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50D12FD3E5C0C7A8DDDAA0894DA404482
Foreign Desk | March 19, 2002, Tuesday
A NATION CHALLENGED: THE OUTLOOK; Cloud Over Pakistan: Is Musharraf's Life Safe?
By RAYMOND BONNER (NYT) 1254 words
Late Edition - Final , Section A , Page 14 , Column 5
ABSTRACT - News analysis; while most of people killed or wounded in grenade attack on Protestant church in Islamabad, Pakistan, were foreigners there is little question that principal target was government of Pres Pervez Musharraf, who has become one of point men in Bush administration's war on terrorism; question arises over whether he can survive, not just politically but even physically; photo (M) While most of the people killed or wounded in the attack on a church here on Sunday were foreigners, there is little question that a principal target was the government of Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who has become one of the point men in the Bush administration's war on terrorism.
In firmly enlisting with the United States, the Pakistani leader took great risks. This is a nation where there is a residual resentment toward Washington, arising out of earlier American policies, and where there was considerable support for the Taliban among the people -- and from the government before Sept. 11.
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While most of the people killed or wounded in the attack on a church here on Sunday were foreigners, there is little question that a principal target was the government of Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who has become one of the point men in the Bush administration's war on terrorism. In firmly enlisting with the United States, the Pakistani leader took great risks. This is a nation where there is a residual resentment toward Washington, arising out of earlier American policies. Now the question is whether he can survive. Not just politically, but even physically. When assessing General Musharraf's predicament, many Pakistanis and foreign diplomats solemnly mention Anwar el-Sadat, the Egyptian leader who was cut down by opponents of his policy of making peace with Israel. "There are people out there who would like to see him dead," said a veteran diplomat here, referring to Pakistan's Islamic militants. Though few in number, they are "bitter, nasty and organized," he said. A more immediate question is how the attack on Sunday - in which two of the five people killed were Americans - will affect General Musharraf's decision whether to transfer Ahmed Omar Sheikh, the main suspect in the killing of the American journalist Daniel Pearl, to United States custody. It is a microcosm of his larger dilemma. To surrender Mr. Sheikh, who was indicted in the United States last week, will surely set off more terrorist acts here, diplomats and Pakistani political leaders said. Not to surrender him will create the impression that the general is giving in to threats of terrorism. The government may have other reasons not to give up Mr. Sheikh, including reports that he has links to Pakistan's main intelligence agency. In the short term, few doubt that there will be more terrorist acts and that the police, poorly paid and inadequately trained, are simply not able to prevent them. But in the long run, the question posed often here is whether the United States is prepared to give Pakistan the help it needs, which is more economic than military.
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