From early in our blog, we've been watching events in Afghanistan and in neighboring nuclear-armed Pakistan with growing concern. The Bushit Assministration stood by and watched the government of Pervez Musharraf cut deals with Taliban-supporting tribes and virtually opt out of pursuing al Qaeda, preferring to focus on an Iraqi dictator that wasn't involved in the 9-11 attacks.
Now, there is a serious internal squabble between President Zardari and the leader of the opposition, Nawaz Sharif, largely over restrictions placed on the judiciary and the political activities of the opposition. Large protests have erupted across Pakistan, and the situation has the potential of spinning out of control. Not good for a country with nuclear weapons and a significant number of its population with anti-American views. For now, the Pakistani Army -- a Western-leaning institution -- is focused on arch rival India, and not on supressing al Qaeda and Talibanists seeking to install a fundamentalist regime. That may change in the weeks ahead.
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