Bronwen Maddox should realise that the siege of the mosque was stage managed drama by Musharraf to divert public opinion from opposition parties conference and supreme court hearings.

Bronwen sounds surprised at the lack of public protests. This should not be taken as support for Musharraf because vast majority of people do know that these clerics were blue eyed boys of former dictator Zia ul Haq whose son, until the death of the cleric, enjoyed close relationship with late Maulana Ghazi. It was Ejaz ul Haq who got Maulana Gazi off the hook when he was arrested by the police with illegal weapon.

As far as Benazir Bhutto is concerned I do not think she will align with a lame duck president. If she decides so then she is definitely going to lose respect in the masses and they may even turn agains her. In that even she will stand allied with MQM which is a known terrorist organisation.

B.A. Solangi, Ilford, UK

Don't forget that Musharraf's control was sanctioned by all at the time because Western Givernments realise that extremists thrive under "democratic discipline" as they milk the maximum protection under the law, pleading they are human rights victims and demanding justice while giving themselves time to plot against law abiding and reasonable people. Democratic discipline means nobody can act against extremists until a few hundred people have been brought to a room for a vote. In the meantime the ones who are breaking the law are being held up as great examples of what anyone can get away with under the system. which supports them. Democracy is a great ideal until it and 'social security' is being 'misused' for bad inentions. I for one am glad Musharraf has the power to do what needs to be done and this will be a mesage to the 'free' thinkers who want us all to think as they do.

Hanley, London, UK

Historically, Frankenstein monsters created by politicians come back to haunt them. Mrs. Gandhi, as astute a politician as any, got consumed by an unnecessary Sikh insurgency which was in some ways her creation. This led to the Golden Temple being stormed in India and Sikh alienation for many years. Similarly for the Americans and the Taliban.
The commies were way better at being adversaries as compared to the Islamists. The communist threat led to some very positive outcomes i.e. development of the internet, the space program etc. etc. Nothing positive will ever come out of the Islamist threat.

Kara Swart, Bangalore, India

when the indian army can let loose the jihadis in occupied kashmir to save the innocent in the besieged holy place, then what was wrong with the pakistani government?

it is shameful for all the local n like minded pakistanis, note am not mentioning slave minded westernize pakistanis.

mohabat khan, islamabad, pakistan

It is unfortunate that many lives lost in Lal Masjid action. But there was no other choice for the government of Pakistan. There is a big lesson for Pakistan. When in late 70's Russia installed a government, West found an opportunity to humiliate Russia by financing "Jehad" with the help of Pakistan and other Arab countries. They encouraged religious feeling to develop fighters against Russia and helped to creat Madrasas all over Pakistan. In these Madrassas fighters were triained to fight in Afghanistan. Later it resulted to "Talibanization" in Afghanistan. Now it is getting alarmingly active in Pakistan. Pakistan is being malighned in West for the problem which they created to tackle Russia. Though, the government installed by Russia was moderate and progressive. Hopefully, future Pakistan governments will be more far sighted to involve in any international adventure.

Farhat Jawed, Windsor, Canada

Well, I agree with the author that the majority of pakistani masses has moderate thinking rather than extremists but one element or one question still remains unanswered: why do such unpleasant incidents occure in a moderate society in the first place? I can assure you that Gen. Musharraf is also not serving the nation in true sense of a resposible leader as he also has not touched the root causes of our society. He will also come to a very bad end unless he does not wrongs in the entire system and which he has no intension to do so.
The above piece is true reflective of paki thought but not the true picture of paki future, in my view its going to be more of a grim.

Ahmad Raza, lahore, Pakistan