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Then, two weeks ago, Pakistani intelligence agents discovered a large cache of Soviet-made arms at the Iraqi embassy in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. Bhutto charged that the arms had been smuggled in to aid a civilian coup against him, though he has offered no conclusive proof. He used the alleged plot as an excuse to oust the Iraqi ambassador, sack the two governors and send additional troops into Baluchistan.
Bhutto hinted that the National Awami Party was involved in the incident; Awami leaders denied the charge, and demanded a top-level judicial and National Assembly inquiry.
Pakistan's internal turmoil came at a time when Bhutto has been seeking closer alignment with the Communist world. Last November Pakistan withdrew from the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, and recognized North Korea and North Viet Nam. He has continued good relations with China, which provides economic and military assistance. Last week, in fact, Mrs. Bhutto was in Peking, where she made an impassioned plea for the return of Pakistani P.O.W.s from India. The Pakistani President has also moved for an accommodation with India, meeting at Simla last year with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to define the postwar ceasefire line and reduce tensions in the area.
Reforms. At home Bhutto has made some important reforms, including nationalizing the coal mines, reducing large landholdings, and improving the country's backward educational system. At the same time, he has been careful not to alienate the armed forces. Military expenses make up 56% of Pakistan's budget, and have contributed heavily to inflation; retail prices have risen nearly 30% in the past 14 months.
To keep his popular backing, Bhutto must get Pakistan's 90,000 P.O.W.s back from India, which hinges on his recognition of Bangladesh. Last week three young Pakistanis burst into the London offices of the Indian High Commission armed with swords, acid spray and toy guns. They took eight staff members hostage, apparently to draw attention to the P.O.W. issue. British police, thinking the guns were real, killed two youths, Basharat Hussain and Mohammed Hanif Hussain, both 19, and captured the third, a 15-year-old.
The larger question is whether Bhutto can find a way to hold the country together. Much may depend on whether he continues to pursue the politics of confrontation or instead seeks some form of political conciliation. For the moment, he seems bent on the former. Despite his initial promise to restore democracy to Pakistan, the proposed constitution is clearly designed to preserve dictatorial powers for himself. If he insists on that course, warns Malik Ghulam Jilani, a political leader who fled to London for fear of his life, it will lead to the "demolition of Pakistan, brick by brick and stone by stone. Bhutto has tried to fool the people," he adds, "but now the people have seen his iron fist under the velvet glove."