Despite of the fact that US President George Bush extended support to Musharraf government in Pakistan, the US’ Senate Committee on Foreign Relations named Pakistan as the most dangerous country in the world. The Senate committee has even slammed Bush administration for adopting pro-Musharraf policy even after knowing the fact about Pakistan.
Senator Joseph R Biden, chairman of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said this in a debate at the Drake University in Iowa. He was featuring the Democratic candidates sponsored by ABC News at the function.
He said:
The fact of the matter is, Pakistan is the most dangerous, potentially... the most dangerous country in the world. A significant minority of jihadists with nuclear weapons.
He further said that the US has no Pakistan policy but it has a Musharraf policy. That is a bad policy. The US should establish good relation with the country not with a single person. The policy should be based upon a long-term relationship with Pakistan and stability.
Biden later said with great stress that there is a need to conduct a free and fair elections in Pakistan. This is a necessary step to protect the moderates from going underground, who are in overwhelming majority. The moderators should have their own days now. The US should be encouraging free elections to prevent moderators from going underground.
At the same time, former Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards said that Musharraf was not a wonderful leader. This is truth that he provided some stability in Pakistan. There was a risk that a radical government may take over the country if he’s overthrown.
He later said that Pakistan has a nuclear weapon. It may create dangerous, volatile situation in the South Asian region because India and Pakistan are engaged in tension over Kashmir.
