PROFILE : General Pervez Musharraf

Gen. Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's ruler, has been thrust into the international spotlight in recent months, first by the U.S. mission in Afghanistan, and now with the escalating conflict between Pakistan and neighboring India.

Since he took power in a bloodless coup in October 1999, Musharraf has fought economic and political crises, coupled with the continuous tension with its Hindu neighbor India.

Now, Pakistan finds itself sandwiched between an increasingly tense India to the east and a decimated Afghanistan to the west. The delicate political climate has ratcheted up pressure on Musharraf to carefully consider his diplomatic moves.

Rise To Power
Musharraf was born in Delhi in 1943 and emigrated with his family to Pakistan during the partitioning of the subcontinent in 1947, settling in the southern city of Karachi.

He began his military career at 21 and rose through the ranks, finally becoming army chief in 1998 following the resignation of the powerful Gen. Jehangir Karamat, just days after the general had demanded Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif increase the military's role in policy decisions. Analysts said the move illustrated Sharif's tight hold on the country's power structure.

Just before Musharraf's promotion, Pakistan and India had developed their 50-year rivalry into a nuclear standoff, with each country successfully developing and testing atomic weapons amid heightened military tensions. Meanwhile, armed battles continued to flare in the disputed province of Kashmir, long a focal point of the two countries' aniomsity.

That situation soon cooled, but another battle over Kashmir flared in the summer of 1999. Sharif ordered Pakistani militants to withdraw from Indian-held territory after two months, a move seen by some as humiliating to the military. Government officials said the decision was meant to avert a third war with India over the disputed province.

Tensions increased between Musharraf and Sharif following the pullout, finally culminating in the October 12 coup that toppled Sharif and put Musharraf at the helm of Pakistan's government.

Accusing Sharif's administration government of "systematically destroying" state institutions and driving the economy toward collapse, Musharraf said during a nationwide address the military would work to keep Pakistan secure and prosperous.

"Dear brothers and sisters, your armed forces have never and shall never let you down," Musharraf said. "We shall preserve the integrity and sovereignty of our country to the last drop of our blood."

Musharraf suspended the national assembly after the coup and imprisoned Sharif, who was later sentenced to life in prison for alleged terrorism.

Although Musharraf told Pakistanis in October 1999 the military had "no intention to stay in charge any longer than is absolutely necessary to pave the way for true democracy to flourish in Pakistan," he has said he will not hold elections until at least October 2002 -- a deadline set by Pakistan's Supreme Court.

Joining the anti-terrorism coalition
One of the most critical decisions Musharraf has made came shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

Pakistan faced intense pressure from Bush administration officials to join the U.S.-led coalition against terrorism after accused mastermind Osama bin Laden was reported to be hiding in neighboring Afghanistan.

Musharraf pledged support for the coalition, risking retribution from other Islamic countries and sparking violent protests in several Pakistani cities.

As Musharraf explained in a nationwide address following the first U.S. strikes on Afghanistan, the decision created an awkward situation: Pakistan, the only country that still maintained diplomatic ties with the Taliban was now aiding the country attacking it.

"We continue, following the event of September 11, we continue to interact with the Taliban government in best national interest and in best international interest," he said. "And I know that our efforts have been appreciated around the world. Because we were the only country who were interacting with them, we tried to bring moderation into the Taliban government."

Before the U.S. strikes began, Pakistani officials had tried to negotiate bin Laden's extradition, but Taliban leaders refused.

Relations with India
With the Taliban removed from power in Afghanistan, Pakistan has turned its attention to another neighbor, India.

Musharraf has said one of Pakistan's goals should be to decrease tensions with India over Kashmir. He discussed the matter with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee during a summit in July 2001, but those talks failed to reach a resolution.

Relations between the two countries soured dramatically in December after India blamed Pakistan for a deadly attack on the Indian parliament.

Saying that Pakistan did not want war, but would defend its sovereignty, Musharraf moved more troops to the border. But he also cracked down on the key anti-Indian groups based in his nation and accused of the parliament attack, saying he hoped the move would ease the border tension.

-- by By Greg Barber, Online NewsHour

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