LAHORE, Oct 21: The Sept 11 terror attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon have drastically changed the political situation in Pakistan with the government and opposition reviewing their priorities.

The obduracy of the Taliban government that it will not hand over Osama bin Laden to the United States without a solid proof against him and the determination of the latter to smoke the Saudi dissident out of his hole, break the Al Qaeda network and bring all terrorists and their supporters to justice, have forced the international community to change thinking about the Musharraf government.

As things stand, Gen Musharraf is more popular in the world than at home. The countries which were demanding that the military ruler should restore democracy without delay, which had imposed various kinds of sanctions and suspended Pakistan’s membership of various organizations have changed their policies and are now showering benefits on the government.

The question of the government’s legitimacy has gone into the background, and President Musharraf is rejoicing the appreciation he is getting from the world community for his cooperation against terrorism.

Opposition parties in the country are crestfallen. They feel disappointed that public pressure they had built over the two past years has suddenly disappeared because of the situation. The more response the general is getting from abroad, the more dejected opposition parties feel.

As a matter of fact, the crisis has weakened the opposition as they have different points of view on the situation. This divergence also benefits the government.

The ARD president feels more upset for his past struggle has gone waste and there is no possibility of his being able to mobilise people in the foreseeable future.

So extreme are the positions taken by various ARD parties that the head of the alliance is not in a position to call a meeting to discuss the situation and work out the coalition’s future strategy.

The day a meeting is held, some say, the ARD will disintegrate.

The PPP is fully with the government on the question of Afghanistan, although it claims that the government is supporting the PPP’s point of view.

The PML(N) is demanding the revival of dissolved parliament and the formation of a war cabinet to handle the situation.

The demand has not been supported by any other party.

The ANP is also supporting the government’s policy on Afghanistan and favours a broad-based government for the country destroyed by over 20 years of war.

Religious parties are expressing solidarity with the Taliban government and are holding rallies against the United States. Although their protests are going on, the government feels no threat.

Gen Musharraf has repeatedly stated that people opposed to him are in a minority and that an overwhelming majority is with him.