Pakistan Simmering

Protests that have erupted in Pakistan since the sacking of former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry have only proven that the opposition to President Musharraf is growing and there is simmering discontent against his authoritarian rule.The clashes that took place in Karachi between pro-Mushrraf and opposition supporters and the brutal killings that followed have only discredited Musharraf in the eyes of many Pakistanis.Not many Pakistanis are willing to buy his argument that it was the politicisation of the Chief Justice's sacking that led to the violence.It is said that the hand that seizes power by force is often burnt. While it would be naive to predict Musharraf's downfall since he has been proven to be a canny and pragmatic leader in the past, the tide is slowly turning. India needs to be vigilant right now since all these developments could destabilise Pakistan which could spell deadly trouble for India since destablisation could put extremists in a position of power in Pakistan.