COUP IN PAKISTAN

October 12, 1999
		Pakistani Army Chief General Pervaiz Musharraf said in a speech on state television that the military had dismissed the country's democratically elected government.Following this Online update on the situation, two regional experts assess the situation. --Posted 6:35 PM ET

Feb. 22, 1999: Easing nuclear tensions between India and Pakistan. June 4, 1998: Leaders meet in Geneva to discuss India/Pakistan situation. May 29, 1998: The dangers of nuclear diplomacy in the region. May 28, 1998: Pakistan responds to India's nuclear tests. May 26, 1998: Pakistan contemplates nuclear test response. May 26, 1998: Tensions rise between India and Pakistan. May 14, 1998: India conducts five nuclear tests in three days. Complete NewsHour coverage of Asia     Pakistani Embassy in Washington Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

Musharraf accused the government of "systematically destroying" state institutions and driving the economy toward collapse. On Tuesday, the military closed the airports and placed Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif under house arrest. The coup came just hours after Sharif fired Musharraf, who was visiting Sri Lanka. The general immediately flew back to Pakistan and was met at the airport by a large contingent of soldiers. The conflict between the two men developed this summer after the prime minister ordered militants to withdraw from Indian territory in the Kashmir region, ending two months of bitter fighting with India. Musharraf reportedly orchestrated the incursion into Kashmir, and the withdrawal of the militants was considered humiliating to Pakistan's military. During his public address Musharraf said the country is "calm, stable and under control" and that no outside forces should think of taking advantage of the situation. He added the armed forces will preserve the integrity of Pakistan with "the last drop of our blood." U.S. officials are watching the developments closely. White House spokesman Joe Lockhart says a political crisis is unfolding, but added that there are no signs that Pakistan's recently tested nuclear weapons are insecure -- nor are any Americans or U-S facilities directly threatened. At the State Department, spokesman James Rubin called for the government to respect Pakistan's constitution. He said a military coup would change the United States' approach to Pakistan in the short term. India expressed grave concern over the coup in neighbouring Pakistan. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee held a crisis meeting Tuesday night and put the armed forces on high alert. Pakistan and India have fought three wars since they became independent from Britain in 1947, and their forces fought from May to July in parts of Kashmir. Both nations tested nuclear weapons last year. Exiled Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto blamed Prime Minister Sharif for provoking the coup. In an interview with the BBC, Bhutto accused Sharif of using elements of the military against the Pakistani people. "I have further heard that the ruling parliamentary party had contacted the army chief and offered him their support because they feel that Mr. Nawaz Sharif was turning the country into a police state," she said. Pakistan is an overwhelmingly Muslim country of 140 million people. It has been ruled by military leaders for much of its 52-year history, but had sustained a democratically elected government since 1985.