Pakistan’s Obedient Son

Both the US and Afghanistan pressure Pakistan to capture suspected terrorists hiding along its borders. Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf and Afghanistan’s president Hamid Karzai once had strong ties, but the relationship is unraveling over the issue. Meanwhile warlords challenge Musharraf’s authority and promote domestic unrest, motivated by the desire for control of Pakistan’s rich natural gas resources. Despite persistent violence and attempts on his life, Musharraf has a vision for Pakistan as a regional power, occupying a strong political and economic position relative to India, China, Iran and central Asian countries. While his intelligence officials vigorously defend their performance in the war on terror, Musharraf orchestrates Pakistani allegiances – maintaining the US as ally and also cooperating with China. Pakistan surprised the world by developing a nuclear weapon and could surprise the world yet again with encouraging diplomacy in the tumultuous region. – YaleGlobal