A Pakistani police officer, taking shelter behind an armored vehicle, aimed his weapon at demonstrators in Islamabad on Friday. Emilio Morenatti/Associated PressPakistan’s Political Rift May Pose Test for Obama -- New York Times
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The intensifying political battle between the pro-American president and the main opposition leader is shaping up as a potential crisis for the Obama administration as it tries to focus the government on fighting the Qaeda and Taliban insurgency here.
The domestic struggle will almost certainly deflect attention from that fight as President Asif Ali Zardari and his archrival, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, duke it out and as street protests persist, politicians and analysts said.
It could also result in shifting political alliances, including new opportunities for the religious right that would be inimical to Washington’s interests, and even serve to make the Pakistani military restive for power again if the situation continued to worsen, they said.
Read more ....
More News On Pakistan
Protests Continue on Sharif Ban -- BBC News
Protests in Pakistan continue -- UPI
Playing With Fire in Pakistan -- New York Times editorial
Pakistan PM appeals for calm after political unrest -- AFP
Pak chaos may embolden militants: Nawaz -- NDTV
Losing integrity: Is Pakistan dividing again? -- Times Of India