Hassan Abbas
Former Senior Advisor, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Contact:
Website: http://www.watandost.blogspot.com/
AP Photo
February 19, 2008
"Pakistan Elections: A Clear Verdict"
Op-Ed, The Guardian, Comment is Free...
By Hassan Abbas, Former Senior Advisor, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
"As for Musharraf, he is living in a fool's paradise if he thinks he is going to be a father figure to the next prime minister of Pakistan. The new government will be under tremendous public pressure to bring back the deposed judges, and that could sound a death knell for the Musharraf presidency. For the army, which is distancing itself from Musharraf already, institutional interests, saving prestige and influence, will be more important than rescuing a president who continues to shoot himself in the foot. The west in general — and Britain and the US in particular — must show patience while democratic forces settle; at least as much patience as they showed with military dictators. This is the very least that the people of Pakistan earned yesterday."
imranthetrekker
February 15, 2008
"Pakistan: Opposition Parties Are Poised to Win Poll"
Magazine or Newspaper Article, Oxford Analytica
By Hassan Abbas, Former Senior Advisor, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
"While there is a considerable risk that the elections will be rigged and that poor security will deter voting, pro-Musharraf parties will be swept from power. The PPP is expected to secure the most votes, raising the prospect of a grand coalition of parties united in opposition to the president. Stable government will depend on their ability to work together, as well as with Musharraf, for as long as he remains in power."
AP Photo
January 2008
"A Profile of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan"
Journal Article, CTC Sentinel, issue 2, volume 1
By Hassan Abbas, Former Senior Advisor, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
"The organizational strength, military strategy and leadership quality of the Taliban in Pakistan's tribal territories has qualitatively improved during the last few years. At the time of the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan in late 2001, allies and sympathizers of the Taliban in Pakistan were not identified as 'Taliban' themselves. That reality is now a distant memory. Today, Pakistan's indigenous Taliban are an effective fighting force and are engaging the Pakistani military on one side and NATO forces on the other."
AP Photo
December 31, 2007
"Musharraf Cannot Escape All Blame"
Op-Ed, The Australian
By Hassan Abbas, Former Senior Advisor, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
"...Pakistan has lost a desperately needed leader. With Pakistan's future in the balance, the West's help and support will be crucial, but that means recognising that Musharraf is not the only leader who can resolve Pakistan's many problems and manage the war on terror. On the contrary, by nurturing the present environment of instability and uncertainty, Musharraf himself must be regarded as one of Pakistan's biggest problems."
December 31, 2007
"The Elections Must Go Ahead"
Op-Ed, The Guardian, Comment is Free...
By Hassan Abbas, Former Senior Advisor, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Without credible elections, restoration of the independent judiciary and effective curbs on the activities of the country's intelligence agencies in internal affairs, Pakistan cannot be rescued from a certain slide into more chaos. Pakistan's history is full of cover-ups and Bhutto's murder is proving to be no different.
December 17, 2007 12:34am EST
Analysis: End of Emergency Rule Unlikely to Resolve Pakistan's Problems
News
By Hassan Abbas, Former Senior Advisor, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
In a country where those who lose elections instinctively blame it on rigging . . . , and where divisions in the society are entrenched, these elections can open up a Pandora's box of political grievances, unmet expectations, ethnic rivalries and people's disenchantment with the system.
dih123
December 11, 2007
"Pakistan: Corps is Ill-Equipped for 'War on Terror'"
Magazine or Newspaper Article, Oxford Analytica
By Hassan Abbas, Former Senior Advisor, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
"A major overhaul of the Frontier Corps in terms of its mandate, service conditions, new training facilities and improved promotion prospects has the potential to rejuvenate the force. However, this is a long-term project, and there is little prospect that it can be transformed quickly to tackle the menace of Talibanisation."
AP Photo
November 28, 2007
"New Army Chief Will Focus on Morale, Image"
Magazine or Newspaper Article, Oxford Analytica
By Hassan Abbas, Former Senior Advisor, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
"Kayani's assumption of military leadership leaves a weakened president with even less power. While Kayani is loyal to Musharraf for now, efforts to boost morale and improve public perceptions of the military will take priority over the protection of an unpopular civilian president."
AP Photo
November 26, 2007
"Pakistan Crisis"
Presentation
By Hassan Abbas, Former Senior Advisor, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and Barry Newhouse
A discussion of the latest political crisis in Pakistan with VOA correspondent in Islamabad Barry Newhouse and political scientist Hassan Abbas, a Research Fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center's Project on Managing the Atom and International Security Program.
AP Photo
November 26, 2007
"Is the NWFP Slipping Out of Pakistan's Control?"
Magazine or Newspaper Article, Terrorism Monitor, issue 22, volume V
By Hassan Abbas, Former Senior Advisor, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
"The NWFP is not likely to physically slip out of Pakistan’s hands.... Religious political forces have lost some of their support base (Daily Times, November 22) due to poor governance ..... Musharraf’s arbitrary imposition of emergency rule (read: martial law) has targeted those very forces which can challenge extremists. Many human rights activists and lawyers in the NWFP were arrested and top judges of the NWFP high court known for their progressive views and integrity have been sent home. Among the militants, however, this action of Musharraf is being interpreted as his weakness, further emboldening their activities...."
