‘Memogate’ scandal reveals civil-military splits
By AP
ISLAMABAD: Publication of a secret memo asking Washington for help reining in the Pakistani military further ignited a scandal Friday threatening Pakistan’s US ambassador and exposing the rift between its shaky government and the country’s powerful generals.
The ambassador, Husain Haqqani, has denied having anything to do with a memo delivered to the US military chief asking for help with the military because of the domestic turmoil triggered by the US raid that killed al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden.
The ”memogate” scandal is adding to pressures on the already deeply unpopular government.
Some analysts have speculated that President Asif Ali Zardari himself could be in danger if charges that he signed off on the memo gain traction.
”The target is not me, the target is President Zardari and Pakistani democracy,” Haqqani said.
Though Pakistan has a civilian president, the military retains vast political and economic power.
It has ruled Pakistan, directly or indirectly, for most of its six-decade existence, and fiercely resisted attempts by civilian leaders to curb its role. …
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