The Democrats vs. Musharraf

Posted By Caitlin Wall Wednesday, January 16, 2008 - 5:06 PM Share

At a Council on Foreign Relations panel discussion today, Time's Joe Klein observed that while Republicans are most concerned about Iran, Democrats tend to be more worried about Pakistan. It's a pattern that has not gone unnoticed in Islamabad, as a recent Der Speigel interview with Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf makes clear:

SPIEGEL: The next US president could be a Democrat. The front-runners have already stated they would change their political course with Pakistan. Hillary Clinton wants to impose American controls on Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, and Barack Obama would like to send American troops to fight extremists in your country ...

Musharraf: ... (laughs, shakes his head) ...

SPIEGEL: ... they also might cut back military and economic aid to Pakistan, which has amounted to more than $10 billion since 2001. Have the Democratic front-runners contacted you already?

Musharraf: All these politicians you have mentioned and who talk that way do not have access to intelligence information that could provide them with an accurate view of the situation. When these people get access to that kind of intelligence, I am sure they will not take a different approach than their predecessor. Why would they want to do something to destabilize us, a nuclear power? They will not act against their own national interest.

EXPLORE:SOUTH ASIA, DECISION '08, PAKISTAN, POLITICS

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