Bull's Eye

Flanked on the north-west by the Durand Line drawn by imperialists who cut the Pashtun population in half, and in the east by the Radcliffe Award which cut the Punjab population in half, Pakistan has wrestled with its chequered legacy for over half a century. Before 1947, only a minority of Muslims in what is now Pakistan wanted Pakistan. But even they did not want Punjab partitioned. The West Punjab assembly voted unanimously against the partition of the Punjab province when asked for its opinion. But all that is history. Pakistan, with its unnatural boundaries, was formed. It is in India's interest that it remains. But for that to happen, Pakistan must confront the simple truth that an Indian guarantee will best assure it a normal, trouble-free existence.

The bomb blast in Mumbai was expected. This column had warned of major terrorist strikes by pla-inspired groups after Vajpayee's return from China. Peace overtures between Indian and Pakistani non-official sections must have added urgency to the pla-inspired Pakistani hardcore to step up terrorist strikes.

The domestic situation in Pakistan has reached boiling point. In June, Pakistan's army became the first outside force in a century to enter the self-administered tribal belt on the Pak-Afghan border. After that, things began to hot up. Since mid-August, attacks by Pakistani and Afghan Pashtuns against US and Afghan government troops have sharply escalated in southeastern Afghanistan. The Taliban comeback has begun. According to The Guardian, London, Pervez Musharraf had struck a deal with America to go slow in capturing Osama bin Laden, presumed to be hiding in the self-administered tribal belt. Pakistan's president was not sure he could handle the upheaval Bin Laden's capture would provoke. To satisfy Musharraf, and yet keep the war against terrorism alive, the Bush neo-conservatives launched their pre-planned attack on Iraq—which is becoming a costly misadventure. Why the misadventure, and what it might cost the Bush presidency, is another story. The germane truth is that to reclaim credibility, America cannot delay operations against Bin Laden. And Musharraf can no longer delay the Americans.

Bin Laden's capture could be the catalyst that plunges Pakistan into its worst-ever crisis. India needs a stable, friendly Pakistan. Pakistan might need India's cooperation to survive. An unpublicised dialogue would help.