Developments in Pakistan show that the country is plunging into ever deeper political crisis.

Ever since Pakistan under General Musharraf joined the American-led “war against terror” and provided bases for the US to launch its war of occupation of Afghanistan in 2001, the country has been racked by growing opposition of the people to this war and to the alliance with US imperialism. Under US dictate, General Musharraf stabbed in the back the Taliban, the very organisation which had been financed, armed and trained by Pakistan and the US in the war against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Pakistani society as a consequence became deeply divided. The response of the Pakistani state has been to launch merciless attacks, including bombing of people in Baluchistan, on those forces opposed to US imperialism and to the alliance of Pakistan with that country.

In a situation where Musharraf’s rule was becoming highly unpopular, US imperialism and the Pakistani ruling circles decided to remove him from power and replace him with a civilian government through a process which would be declared as a “victory of democracy”. Following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, and the coming to power of Zardari as President, Pakistan saw a brief period of collaboration between Bhutto’s PPP and the party of Nawaz Sharif (PML(N)). This did not last very long. On March 1 this year, the Supreme Court of Pakistan disqualified Nawaz Sharif from standing for elections and holding public office. It also disqualified Nawaz Sharif’s brother, the Chief Minister of Punjab, the largest province of Pakistan, and this has been followed by Governor’s rule in the province. Predictably, Nawaz Sharif’s party has organised mass protests against the Zardari government in Punjab.

Following Obama becoming the US President, the US government has proclaimed that the main theatre of the “war against terror” includes both Afghanistan and Pakistan. It has been demanding that Pakistan fully support its plans to crush all opposition to the US in these two countries, by painting these forces as terrorists, “Taliban”, “Al Qaeda” and so on. Drone attacks are being regularly launched against villages in Pakistan and in Afghanistan, which the US claims are bases of Al Qaeda and the Taliban. The Zardari government and the Pakistani army have, after some token opposition, quietly acquiesced, if not collaborated, in these attacks which have led to the killing of many innocent persons.

In this whole period, there has been a sharp escalation of terrorist violence in Pakistan, which has taken the lives of hundreds of people. The attack on a bus carrying Sri Lankan cricketers on March 3 is but the latest such terrorist attack.  The increasing incidents of terrorist attacks in Pakistan must be seen in the light of the escalating US imperialist pressure on Pakistan. A justification is being created to paint all those opposed to US imperialism in the region with the same brush, as some kind of “Al Qaeda terrorists”, who must be crushed with an iron hand. In this manner, the drone attacks get justified, the brutal bombings of villagers, the attacks on mosques etc, all get justified. Paint your enemy like the devil and then get the support of people for these crimes – this seems to be the logic behind this spate of terrorist attacks.

The aim of the perpetrators of terrorist killings in Pakistan is to terrorise and paralyse the people, confuse them about the source of their problems, and paint all those opposed to US imperialism and the ruling class as terrorists.

The working class and people of Pakistan are faced with a difficult situation. The main political leaders of Pakistan, as well as the army leaders are all compromised by their dealings with US imperialism, which controls their purse strings. The rulers of Pakistan will never admit that it is their rule, and the strategic alliance of the Pakistani bourgeoisie with US imperialism, that has brought Pakistan to its present situation. The working class and people of Pakistan must join hands and direct their struggle against this treacherous ruling class, and its alliance with US imperialism.

Internationally, an unjustifiable and unbearable state of siege is being imposed on Pakistan, orchestrated by US imperialism, and with the Indian ruling bourgeoisie acting as the main cheerleader of this campaign. Pakistan is being painted as the source of global terror, and every effort is being made to treat it as a pariah.  This is totally unacceptable!  The source of terrorism in our neighbourhood is not the people of Pakistan, but the sinister designs and activities of US imperialism and its collaborators. The Indian working class has a major responsibility to come forward and oppose this state of siege being imposed on Pakistan.   The peoples of India, Pakistan and all the other countries in our region should get together and oppose the presence of US imperialism and its “war against terror” in our neighbourhood, which is the source of the escalating violence and instability here.