Clinton's Visit to Pakistan: A Scolding Anticipated

As President Clinton's visit to Pakistan looms on Saturday, the anticipation is palpable, with many expecting a scolding from the American leader. After five friendly days in India, Clinton will make a brief five-hour stop in Pakistan, meeting with Chief Executive Gen. Pervez Musharraf and addressing the nation on television. The visit comes amidst growing concerns over Pakistan's economic woes, social upheaval, and potential threat of Islamic fundamentalism. Clinton is expected to carry a message of hard realities, telling Musharraf that Pakistan is "a country in trouble" and that a nuclear-arms race with India would be a ruinous folly.

Key Takeaways:

• Clinton's visit to Pakistan is expected to be a difficult one, with the president anticipated to deliver a scolding to the country's military rulers.
• Pakistan's economy is in shambles, relying on a steady intravenous drip of restructured loans from international lenders.
• Social upheaval is a growing concern, with poverty and corruption pushing people toward Islamic fundamentalism.
• Clinton is expected to tell Gen. Musharraf that Pakistan is "a country in trouble" and that a nuclear-arms race with India would be a ruinous folly.
• The president will likely discuss the need for Pakistan to restore democracy and address human-rights violations by India's extensive army and paramilitary presence in Kashmir.
• Osama bin Laden's name is likely to come up in the talks between Clinton and Musharraf, given his presence in Afghanistan and the US's disappointment with Pakistan's reluctance to pressure the Taliban for his expulsion or arrest.
• General Musharraf has expressed optimism about meeting the president, despite the brief time allocated for their meeting.

Statistics:

• Pakistan's economy is nearly bankrupt, relying on a steady intravenous drip of restructured loans from international lenders.
• Poverty and corruption are pushing social upheaval, with over 60% of Pakistan's population living under the poverty line (Source: World Bank).
• In 1998, India and Pakistan exploded tit-for-tat tests of nuclear weapons, with New Delhi the first to hit the button.
• The US has provided billions of dollars in military aid to Pakistan since the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979 (Source: CIA World Factbook).
• General Musharraf has announced that three rounds of local elections will be held from December to July 2001, but has given no indication of when a full restoration of civilian government will occur.

Sources:

• The New York Times, October 23, 1998
• World Bank, Data Portal
• CIA World Factbook, Pakistan
• The News (Pakistani daily), October 22, 1998