Abstract

Apart from breaking its isolation, Pakistan has not gained much from its unreserved support to the United States. The external debt has not been written off, and the economy shows few signs of recovery. Jihadi and sectarian movements have been banned, but many militants are still active and the law and order situation has not improved. In order to legitimise his stay in power for another five years, President Musharraf has announced a referendum which will be followed by general elections in October 2002, while Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif are still in exile. The military establishment wants to retain its hold on power and everyhing seems to be in place for a repetition of history.


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