March 27, 2008
The Guardian

Pakistan: We Are No Longer Your Killing Field

by Declan Walsh

The Bush administration is scrambling to engage with Pakistan's new rulers as power flows from its strong ally, President Pervez Musharraf, to a powerful civilian government buoyed by anti-American sentiment.

Top diplomats John Negroponte and Richard Boucher travelled to a mountain fortress near the Afghan border yesterday as part of a hastily announced visit that has received a tepid reception.

On Tuesday, senior coalition partner Nawaz Sharif gave the visiting Americans a public scolding for using Pakistan as a "killing field" and relying too much on Musharraf.

Yesterday the new prime minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani, said he warned President George Bush in a phone conversation that he would prioritise talking as well as shooting in the battle against Islamist extremism. "He said that a comprehensive approach is required in this regard, specially combining a political approach with development," a statement said.

But Gilani also reassured Bush that Pakistan would "continue to fight against terrorism", it said. . . .

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Michel Chossudovsky, "The Destabilization of Pakistan," Centre for Research on Globalisation, December 30, 2007

S. Amjad Hussain, "Goals of Pakistani people at odds with religious parties," Toledo Blade, March 24, 2008

Jane Perlez, "New Pakistani Leaders Tell Americans There's 'a New Sheriff in Town'," New York Times, March 26, 2008

Robin Wright and Joby Warrick, "U.S. Steps Up Unilateral Strikes in Pakistan: Officials Fear Support From Islamabad Will Wane," Washington Post, March 26, 2008

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