Close on heels of Bush-Musharraf talks, a working dinner hosted by the US president with Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai and Musharraf was also an event of enormous interest and media glare. Bush considers both countries as key bulwark against "Taleban" and Islamic radicalism and is keen that both work in concert in that direction. This kind of "rare tripartite" meeting was important from American point of view because of Kabul and Islamabad of late showed varying perception in facing the menace in their areas with one hurling accusations against the other in some areas of combating terrorism. Obviously, Bush will not relish such a situation between two allies and worked for making up whatever rupture occurred between the two neighbours.

Secondly, a rumour of coup in Pakistan while the president was in the United States caused some sensation, but a confident general Musharraf brushed it aside, saying his country is not "a banana state." Thirdly and more importantly in a way, his memoirs "In the Line of Fire" has triggered off both interest and controversy in and outside Pakistan. Even in India, Pakistan's arch rival, indications are there that it will be one of the best sellers while several Indian leaders have adversely reacted to certain information contained in the book. Needless to say that the relations between the two nuclear-power South Asian neighbours are a matter of curiosity for many.

The title of the book probably fits in the life of the person whose very rise to the state power itself was a kind of tenuous affair since it could be a touch-and-go matter. As army chief General Musharraf was still in the air while returning from Colombo when the coup toppled elected prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his government on October 12, 1999. Military take-over is not unfamiliar in Pakistan as most part of country's history is marked by army and undemocratic rule, but what was definitely very unique is the successful and bloodless coup by the armed forces when their leader was still away from the country. Troops whisked Gen Musharraf away from the Karachi airport as the PIA passenger flight landed in the midst of confusion as to who were at the helm in Islamabad, but it took hardly any time to see that the army chief was firmly in control.

The man, who also survived two attempts on his life in 2003 in Rawalpindi within weeks and still on a solid ground, can possibly now rightly say from abroad with confidence that the reports of coup is "baseless" and he was sure nothing happened to trigger such a speculation. In fact, a long power failure in capital Islamabad and elsewhere and Musharraf's medical check up in US sparked off the rumours. Here, the president of Pakistan can look with satisfaction to things way back at home, particularly at his power base, which is obviously the army.

On the political front, Musharraf held national elections honouring a momentous Supreme Court verdict that ruled polls within three years of army take-over and now Pakistan has elected national and provincial parliaments and civilian governments. However, his assertion that the cup of democracy is 99 percent full in his country clearly sounds hollow because of the simple fact that the most powerful person is in uniform and continues to ignore demands that he relinquished the army position. He had earlier spoken of giving up the uniform but later reneged on the promise that led to criticisms both at home and abroad.

A six-party Islamic alliance MMA that supported Musharraf later turned hostile as it felt the president should not have broken the commitment on the uniform issue. The commonwealth, which had suspended Pakistan's membership following the coup, restored it after the elections, but is still not happy with the state of democracy in Pakistan. It's Secretary General Donald McKinnon made no secret that the forum will be happier to see further advancement of democracy and that the presidency, where key powers are concentrated, is a position without uniform.

During his visit to the United States mainly to attend the UN General Assembly session like many other world leaders, that also took him for a meeting with president Bush, General Musharraf was asked about the uniform issue in media interviews and other forums. The idea that he gave is that there is little likelihood of shedding the uniform in the near future as he believes it helps his country and the people. The president cited the passing of a law by parliament recently related to women's rights and said it was a sensitive issue, but he could go ahead with this largely because he was in uniform and cared little as the cause was just.

President Musharraf's book expectedly touches a plethora of issues ranging from his feelings on the division of erstwhile Pakistan in 1971 through a bloody war by the East Pakistanis leading to creation of Bangladesh to his position on the Iraq war. Not surprisingly, issues with India receives much focus like his summits with former premier A.B. Vajpayee in Agra and certainly the domestic scenario is mentioned in detail with obvious blame on two leading politicians, who are now abroad in exile.

Pakistan opposition is up in arms against the book and alleges that Gen. Musharraf has revealed many state secrets in book violating ethics and demanded a special parliamentary session to discuss the matter. Some opposition leaders have described many information in the book as a "bundle of lies" for cheap popularity. The book is likely to be a major issue of political debate as Pakistan approaches election to the presidency in late 2007. Musharraf's supporters call the book as excellent work that has enhanced national image.

Neighbouring India objects to Musharraf's description of the "Kargil" conflict as he sought to call it an adventure by India. Indian leaders and officials sharply deny this and turn the table on him, saying it was Gen. Musharraf as the army chief made the adventure by crossing the line of control (LOC) and later had to vacate the occupied areas. Probably here Musharraf is not correct since the "Kargil" issue had brought a cleavage within the Pakistan government as the army chief was visibly in variance with prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who had to quit, many believe as a sequel to differences with Gen. Musharraf on this issue. Vajpayee markedly differs with Musharraf on his account of the Agra summit. Musharraf opposes the US and allies' intervention in Iraq and says it has undoubtedly spawned terrorism. Musharraf has been at the helm during a difficult time for his nation highlighted by the Afghan situation. After all, his time has been extremely challenging for Pakistan.

It may be a bit early to discuss in detail the "In the Line of Fire", but initial views and reactions to the publication are definitely enormous as it evokes both interest and debate. The timing of its release adds to intense speculation about it as Musharraf is already on an important sojourn that takes him to the US, UN and also the UK. A coup in a fellow Asian country Thailand when its prime minister was away in the UN, is a matter of international discussions. For Gen. Musharraf, it goes to his credit and confidence that he could stoutly deny from US such a speculation in his country.

The Pakistan president is evidently negotiating difficult path in the national and international arena on issues like Islamic militancy, but still seems firm in the saddle. The country's political arena is being heated up as the elections are drawing nearer and president Musharraf's book is meant much for that purpose as he appears to remain in the political landscape for some more time to come.

Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury is a senior journalist.