General-ly Speaking

The dynamics of the Pakistani power struggle are rather transparent, and with Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, it can be safely said that Pakistan’s internal security is on its last leg.
Our main man Mushy does not sit too pretty amongst the ruins. He is steering a country ravaged by internal strife. He is bloody incompetent as a ruler but a good part of it can be attributed to the many demons he has to face:

• The Fundamentalists: Taliban, LeT and its million minions - The reprise of this section in Pakistani society has a lot to do with America’s presence in the Middle East. Resentment against the West and its allies is on an all-time high among Pakistanis. This, coupled with drifters from Afghanistan, has made up the core of the terror bomb. Mushy, in his great wisdom, consolidated the relation that Pakistan had with America and became her strategic ally in the fight against terror. This provided the fuse to the terror bomb. It’s been ticking ever since.
  December 27th 2007 saw its first gigantic explosion – Benazir’s assassination.
  
• The United States of America – Bush and Mush always looked like a couple bound in unholy matrimony. They were living dangerously, and each had a private agenda. Yes, definitely in love! However, like every give and take relationship, this one too had its moments. Bush pushed Mushy for the entirety of their relationship, and Mushy’s constant diplomatic slavery created a huge hate club for him in his own backyard. Finally, when Mushy decided to impose the emergency, Bush came hard at him, cut down his allowance and made his remove his uniform.
  
• The Judiciary – Chief Justice Chowdhury and his affairs hung like the sword of Damocles over Mushy’s head. The manner in which the Justice was kept under house arrest and dismissed from service was, at best, appalling. However, the matter could not be swept under the carpet and Pakistan’s legal community cried foul in the foulest language. The Justice was reinstated and Mushy was forced to eat his own shoe! Matters reached such an extent that he stated, “That the Chief Justice was reinstated is an example of my impartial rule.” Can things get more ludicrous?
  
• The Politicians – Benazir and Sharif were watching their turf closely while Mushy was being sieged by the judiciary. They took this opportunity to emphasize their vision of Pakistan and hit out at him and his ‘dictatorship’. Mushy sensed that the momentum was with them. Admitted that they were corrupt and vengeful; but for the people, they ‘looked’ like the lesser evil. The extent of his loathing of Sharif can be seen from the airport incident when Sharif attempted to arrive in Pakistan amidst a lot of fanfare.
  
• The Military – Strange is the relationship that a military ruler shares with the army. Every army is corrupt, and an army in power, more so. The Pakistan army has probably never had it so good - Their chief in power, millions of greenbacks to fund their perverted schemes, unlimited power in the border areas and their very own nuclear playground. Now, it is obvious that any kid who knows how to make his parents buy him what he wants will not stop at the little red car. One day, he’ll get his Ferrari. The Pakistan army is similar. They have tasted power for long and will not want to give it up at any cost – Not to the fundamentalists or to the politicians. They have expectations from Mushy and expect that he live up to it. Mushy knows from his history lessons that the Pakistan army does not mind cannibalizing, and that it could be his head if he made a false move.
  
• The ISI – Probably the most vilified intelligence agency in the world (except the CIA!), it is a cousin to both the army and the fundamentalists. These chaps have their own agenda and are committed to derail any kind of peace between Pakistan and India. Therefore, it is in their best interests that Pakistan continues in a state of anarchy. Mushy knows that these guys are perfectly capable of trussing him up like a turkey if he does not take a hard-line stance against India. The ISI went ahead and rigged elections to see Mushy sit pretty in the highest seat of power so that they can do what they want. They’ll damn well want their pound of flesh in time.