An influential US newspaper Saturday urged the Bush administration to support secular moderate Pakistani leaders, including Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, who have pledged real constitutional democracy and the rule of law in Pakistan.
At the same time, The New York Times made a strong case for vastly increasing non-military aid for projects that would strengthen Pakistan's battered institutions and improve the daily lives of Pakistanis. "Pakistan's new civilian leaders are undeniably flawed both Zardari and Sharif are seriously tainted by corruption," the Times said in a lead editorial.
"But they deserve Washington's support as they try to set their country on a new course. They do not have a lot of time to get it right. Every suicide bombing is a reminder of the extremists strength and how determined they are to see democracy fail."
In advocating an increase in economic aid, the Times cited the proposal of Senator Joseph Biden, the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, to triple it to $1.5 billion annually for schools, roads and clinics and providing an annual $1 billion "democracy" dividend as reward and encouragement for Pakistan's new government to stay on a democratic path.
"That is a good starting point," it said. "Extremists will capitalise on any sign of weakness, and Musharraf and his rivals must make the political transition as free of conflict as possible. "What happens in Pakistan directly affects Afghanistan. The two share a lawless border; neither can withstand much more upheaval," the editorial added.