Washington cannot and will not abandon Musharraf. Indeed his move, which brings Pakistan closer to collapse, basically forces Washington to stand behind him more firmly, albeit unhappily. In the end, the current crisis can be diffused, if an early rapprochement between Musharraf and the Pakistani Supreme Court can be arranged. It is here that Benazir Bhutto can play a role and reestablish herself as a major player both at home and in the eyes of Washington.
Dr. Muqtedar Khan is Director of Islamic studies and Associate Professor at the University of Delaware. He is a nonresident fellow of the Brookings Institution and a fellow of the Al Waleed Center at Georgetown University. His website is www.ijtihad.org.
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