- Atlanta - Boston - Chicago - DC Area - Houston - Jersey Area - Los Angeles - New York - SF Bay Area
- Earlier editions
- Astrology - Cricket - Money - Movies - Women - India News - US News
"General Musharraf's plan to try legitimise his military rule with a referendum this year is unacceptable and should be discouraged by Washington. He needs to hold a free and fair election," the New York Times said in an editorial.
General Musharraf must 'accelerate his efforts to purge the ISI of links with militant groups operating in Afghanistan, Kashmir, and within Pakistan'.
Acting against these groups, the paper said, is likely to generate opposition to Musharraf within the army 'and, some say, could endanger his life'.
"He has no choice but to change the direction of his troubled nation and its military establishment. Dissident elements of the ISI have to be rooted out and the agency has to end its support of Islamic insurgents in Kashmir and cease intimidating Pakistani civilian politicians," it added.
However, it noted with appreciation that Musharraf has arrested 2,000 militants and Pakistani and US law enforcement officials 'appear' to be cooperating in probing the abduction and murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl.
US President George W Bush, the paper said, has bolstered General Musharraf's regime by relieving Pakistan of some debts and opening American markets for Pakistani textile exports.
An urgent order of business is to equip Pakistan's law enforcement agencies with computers and other tools to keep track of extremists, it added.
PTI
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
