Jeff Merkley Comments on the Assassination of Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto

On the importance of the Pakistani-U.S. relationship:

“Pakistan is a critical ally of the United States for a number of reasons. The first is its location, bordering both India and Afghanistan. It has been a key ally for the entire time the United States has been involved in Afghanistan.

“A second, huge issue is that it is a nuclear nation. It acquired nuclear weapons after India did. The stability of any nation that possesses nuclear weapons is an urgent issue for our own security in the United States.”

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On what might happen now in Pakistan:

“In many ways, Bhutto represents that [Western democratic] tradition. She was in and out as prime minister, involved in the democratic movement, and having returned to put herself in contention for election that was to have happened next week.

“And then you have the military, which has been a stabilizing force over time. It has been a moderating force, if you will, sometimes intervening at moments we would prefer they not intervene but also playing a stabilizing role at moments when we appreciated it.

“Then there is the region of the country that borders Afghanistan where al Qaeda has had a lot of operations – that is almost like a different world from the capital of Pakistan.

“Pakistan is not at a point where there is active internal warfare that would lead one to have any sense that the country might fall into Taliban or al Qaeda hands. That seems probably a long stretch from where they are today.

“I think the core issue is whether they’re going to proceed down a route to reestablishing democracy and hold elections and be a democratic nation; or whether the military will see a growing threat and intervene in that process and continue more of a dictatorship role, or exercise absolute control over the country.

“I think those two forces are allied in a way against the possibility of al Qaeda actually controlling the country.”

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On whether Musharraf has done enough to prevent terrorism:

“I think the general sense has been that Musharraf could have moved far more aggressively to track down terrorist operatives. … I think it has been very frustrating to the United States.

“I was very impressed though that Musharraf had laid out plans for an election to occur next week, and let Bhutto back into the country, and allowed another contender for election back in the country.

“It would be terrible if it turns out that Musharraf is in any way tied in to this assassination. I would be very, very surprised if that is the case.”

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On what the U.S. should do now:

“The assassination has a destabilizing impact in the region. It benefits radical, fundamentalist forces.

“As for what the U.S. should do, we should ask for Pakistan to have an extremely thorough and transparent investigation, because that is essential to the credibility of Musharraf and the military. We should offer help in that investigation if it is desired in any way. We should really press for the continuation of the process for elections – they may well be delayed, but we should continue to press. The U.S. should urge for calm, although we likely have no impact on the response of individuals in the region.

“This reverberates deeply into the heart of Pakistani society.”

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