The Pakistani president is under tremendous pressure from the Bush administration and the U.S. Congress to lift the state of emergency he installed two weeks ago and to bring back democracy, proceed with the elections he promised to hold next year and return the country to normalcy.
Although Musharraf is largely dependent on U.S. aid to his country - about $10 billion since 2003 - when it comes to dealing with the United States, the Pakistani strongman is in a position of strength. In fact, Musharraf is playing the same card against the Bush administration that the Bush administration is using to get its way at home – the fear factor.
Even the United States which has an abnormal situation must adopt abnormal measures, Qasuri said.
Much like Bush has been waving the threat of potential attacks by Islamist terrorists against the United States to push through laws that would give his government greater power, so has Musharraf used the same bogeyman logic on the United States to keep the flow of money coming.
Seeing a strong ally in Musharraf, the United States has once again committed the political mistake of backing one horse rather than spreading its bets.
Musharraf, who controls the army, has been telling the Bush administration that he is vital in maintaining Pakistan on the side of the United States in the war against terrorism.
There is no doubt that Musharraf's survival in the fight he is waging against pro al-Qaida Islamists in various parts of the country is a major concern for the Western powers.
Pakistan has already lost more than 1,000 troops in clashes with pro al-Qaida militants in remote regions bordering the Afghan border
Musharraf's answer to the Bush administration and other critics of his political moves is to tell them that before passing judgment the West must understand the sacrifices in order to restore peace and security in the region. As Qasuri told the Middle East Times it's the security situation that should be highlighted and not the emergency rule that the president declared.
We have great respect for the advice of friendly countries but we object to their direction, Musharraf's close associate said.
We are a sovereign state, and in international law there is something called sovereign equality of the state…. They should respect our sovereign equality, they should advise us, which is the normal pattern among friends. Friends do not give dictation particularly when we are helping them deal with international terrorism.... To give direction to that friend, to that country is rather unfair, the Pakistani president's adviser said.
In other words, please give us the money then stay out of our internal affairs.