Protests in major cities in Pakistan continued today against the decision by Gen. Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's military ruler, to agree to United States demands for cooperation in the hunt for Mr. bin Laden.
While Pakistan was still hesitating over Washington's demands for cooperation in its war against terrorism, India jumped in with what was billed as an unconditional offer of the use of Indian airspace and air bases.
The reports suggest, however, that the Pakistani military has acted as both ally and enemy, as its spy agency runs what American officials have long suspected is a double game -- appeasing certain American demands for cooperation while angling to exert influence in Afghanistan through many of the same insurgent networks that the Americans are fighting to eliminate.
Musharraf has been in the same position as a number of leaders around the world who have spent the years after 9/11 struggling to balance demands for cooperation with the US and the cost this exerts on their standing at home.
So it was no surprise today that one influential voice raised against accepting Mr. Bush's demands for cooperation was that of Hamid Gul, a retired general with links to pro-Taliban Islamic groups in Pakistan who was ISI chief in the closing years of the anti-Soviet struggle.
James Mattis, secretary of defense in the Donald Trump administration, will visit Seoul next week to make a series of demands for cooperation from a headless Korean government.
The tension between the demand for discreet cooperation and the obligation to inform investors and the markets has created an untenable and dangerous dilemma for companies.
"Next year, the North will have a lot of demand for economic cooperation projects with China," Lim said, adding that while Pyongyang may express temporary its displeasure it would soon start working again on improving relations.
