International Crisis Group Calls for U.S. Pressure on Musharaff

The International Crisis Group has issued a statement condemning Pakistan's president, General Pervez Musharraf, for his decision to the declare a state of martial law. In the statement the ICG called for the international community to support the immediate restoration of democracy and the end of military rule in Pakistan.

The International Crisis group urged the U.S. to place pressure on Musharraf 's regime and use sanctions to make its point heard if necessary. "Combating extremism - the excuse for imposing martial law - can be better done by a democratic government led by one of the moderate political parties," read one part of the statement, which was published on the ICG's website.

Gareth Evans, president of the ICG, called Musharaff "the problem not the solution." He affirmed the ICG's belief that only a democratic, civilian led government can stabilize the volatile country of Pakistan.

The ICG statement also laid out a set of steps the international community should take approaching the crisis in Pakistan. First, Musharaff must be urged to cancel martial law and restore fundamental freedoms. Second, the Pakistani dictator must be pressured into respecting authority of Pakistan's courts by returning the justices he removed from power back to the bench. The ICG is also advising that the international community demand the release of political detainees being held prisoner by the Musharaff regime.

In addition the ICG is calling on the international community to urge Musharaff into abandoning his role as head of Pakistan's military. The ICG is pushing for a new set of elections in Pakistan and for the formation of a neutral interim government.

To achieve these goals the international community would have to be willing to implement a series of sanctions if Musharaff does not comply. In the case of such non-compliance the ICG proposes that the international community, especially the U.S., begin a review of military aid to Pakistan. The next step in the proposed series of sanctions would be the suspension of all non-counter terrorism military aid. Next, the foreign assets of Pakistan's military would be frozen and travel by its senior officials restricted. At the same time the ICG notes that aid could be sent directly to the Pakistani people through non-governmental aid organizations.

In a separate statement also posted on the group's website the ICG described Musharaff's decision to implement martial law as a desperate bid to hold onto power. His military government faces adversarial rulings in Pakistan's highest courts and a pending election early next year. The ICG sees the crackdown as an effort to silence voices of dissent in Pakistan, including those of lawyers, human rights activists, moderate politicians, and journalists. Hundreds have been arrested and political rallies and demonstrations have come under attack by Musharaff's security forces.

The Pakistani dictator came to power in a coup in 1999 and has promised, but failed, to deliver democratic elections ever since. The International Crisis Group is a non-governmental organization that works to promote conflict resolution in some of the world's most volatile regions.