Political crisis roils Pakistan as Taliban loom
The collapse of a deal providing the Pakistani president and many other officials freedom from prosecution on corruption charges has created fresh political turmoil even as the army is in a major battle against Taliban militants near the Afghan border. Some analysts believe this development could even force President Asif Ali Zardari out of office, a depressingly familiar prospect in a country where no civilian leader has actually managed to serve a full five-year term since Pakistan was formed in 1947. Other leading analysts say, however, that this is a creation of a sensationalist media, opposition politicians and some in the military who are uncomfortable with civilian leadership in the country. This has ramifications for the US which is trying to get Pakistan to focus on combating insurgents threatening the political security of this nuclear-armed nation and in expanding its fight to militants that are attacking western troops across the Pakistan-Afghan border. For more, read the AP
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