Pakistan’s Army Muddies Waters

Amid speculation that President Asif Ali Zardari is fighting for his political survival, Pakistan’s armed forceshas issued an unusual statement that further muddies the waters.

Mr. Zardari returned home Monday from medical tests in Dubai after suffering stroke-like symptoms two weeks ago. His arrival appeared to quash rumors that Mr. Zardari would go into exile abroad due to army anger over an alleged plan by his government to elicit Washington’s help to chip away at the power of thePakistan military in domestic politics.

At the center of the affair, which has gripped Pakistan for weeks, is an unsigned memo, allegedly from someone in Mr. Zardari’s government, sent to the U.S. administration and seeking its help to avert a militarycoup after the U.S. raid in May that killed Osama bin Laden. The army was deeply angered by the raid on its soil, of which it had no forewarning.

The Pakistani media has been full of reports of a widening rift between the civilian government and the military— in particular about the alleged content of recent meetings between the two sides — which may have prompted the army’s unusual statement, released Monday.

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