America's General
Pakistan takes its most crucial decision since the 1971 war — to side with the US against the Taliban. The clerics may protest, but Musharraf has few options.

ECONOMIC IMPACT
Where Are We Going?
Fear and uncertainty stalk the Indian economy as early damages begin to show.

Ready For Battle
Where will the US strike, with what and how? A report on the military options before the global coalition that the Americans are building against terrorism.

Shifting Stance
Indian foreign policy is in a flux following the terrorist strikes in the US, metamorphosing in tandem with the tectonic shift in the geopolitical landscape of the world.

Menace In The Mind
People like bin Laden are not so much politicising religion as religionising politics.

COVER STORY: PAKISTAN

GUEST COLUMN: G. PARTHASARATHY
Let Vajpayee Learn From Maharaja Ranjit Singh

The decision to assist the US has triggered protests in Pakistan. Delhi should brace itself for growing terrorism as a cornered general tries to placate the jehadis.

Pakistan will have to decide whether it wishes to live in the 21st century or in the Stone Age." This chilling message was conveyed to it by the Bush Administration tired of Pakistani protestations that it had no influence over the Taliban. Fearing further global isolation, bankruptcy and even a possible American attack on Pakistan's nuclear facilities, General Pervez Musharraf has decided to make a virtue of necessity and has proclaimed support for US moves to target Osama bin Laden and the Taliban leadership. Outraged by the decision, right-wing parties have joined hands in nationwide protests.

Pakistan faces serious domestic unrest as the US compels it to provide intelligence inputs and logistical support to eliminate bin Laden. If the Americans eliminate bin Laden and Taliban leader Mullah Omar, the Bush Administration and the international community would be loath to leave the job half-done-for Afghanistan to be ruled by some other Taliban leader like Mullah Mohammad Rabbani. It is precisely a prolonged campaign against the Taliban that Musharraf fears most. Eminent Pakistanis like former army chief General Mirza Aslam Beg and former ISI chief General Hamid Gul have slammed Musharraf's decision to assist the US. How will the Pakistan Army, which has been told that the Taliban is its natural ally, react when Taliban targets are under attack? There have already been strong reactions in the North-West Frontier Province to Musharraf's decision. How will the Pakistan Army react to a tribal insurgency in the province?

The US will try to bail out Musharraf with promises of aid and lifting of sanctions. But the US has neither the time nor the inclination to pander to his ambitions on Kashmir. Delhi should, however, brace itself for growing terrorism all over the country, as a cornered Musharraf tries to placate the jehadis.

There should be no doubt that the Taliban is hostile to pluralistic India: when IC-814 was hijacked to Kandahar, the Taliban provided the car of their Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil to unload the hijackers' baggage. Delhi must join hands with Russia, Iran, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to assist the Northern Alliance Government to take on the Taliban. Maharaja Ranjit Singh recognised that the key to the security of the plains of India lay in Kabul. Does the Vajpayee Government share this strategic vision?
(The author is a former Indian high commissioner to Pakistan)

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Living On The Edge