Transcript
CARLOS PASCUAL: The stakes in Pakistan were tragically highlighted with the assassination of Benazir Bhutto on December 27, and in hosting this event, we pay tribute to her commitment to restore Pakistan's democracy. On February 18 there will be obviously a pinnacle of the political process as Pakistan holds its parliamentary elections. At that point a judgment will have to be made by the Pakistani people and the international community about the credibility of the process, the credibility of the elections, and the credibility of the government that is formed as a result of that electoral process.
It will also set the tone for the future; the dynamics, for example, between President Musharraf and the new government and whether they are able to work together; the role of the military in Pakistan's political life and whether there is potential to move toward a strengthened civilian and secular force internally within Pakistan's governance. It will also influence the capacity to concentrate attention on the terrorist threat that appears to be partly homegrown and partly foreign in the federally administered tribal areas. The impact on Pakistan I think everyone recognizes is also clear, whether it has been cross-border activity that has influenced the ability of the Afghan state to consolidate itself, and from American perspective has an impact on NATO troops and 35,000 American troops. And in the backdrop of all of this is the reality that Pakistan has nuclear weapons and the concern about the control and safety of those nuclear weapons. Because of the importance and complexity of these issues, Brookings is hosting this event today and several events over the coming weeks.
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