Blogosphere abuzz with Musharraf's ouster

In all the discussion forums in cyberspace, this is by far more exciting than any pot boiler novel on the bestseller list.

It's still the biggest story in the region and probably will be for a while until the future of Pakistan becomes clearer.

The resignation of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf ...

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that Mushrraf had made a significant contribution to the stability of the country.

Pervez Musharraf's exit has been interpreted widely. Supporters of Pakistan's civilian government see it as a hope for democracy while the West is seeing it as a risk.

And the US sees it as another setback for its foreign policy, coming soon after its loyal ally, Georgia, is occupied by Russia.

But Pakistan is a bigger concern for the US as it had given no choice to Musharraf in its war against Osama.

And as Mark Tran of Guardian blogs says, Musharraf became a reluctant ally.

He didn't support all-out war on Al-Qaida and Taliban and preferred truces instead.

And the recent news stories of CIA accusations that ISI was colluding with militant groups have frustated White House even more.

Bloggers say that Musharraf had become a liability ever since he tried to sack Pakistan's Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

Now, the US is left to deal with a weak coalition which has no clear future plan.

This has come at a time when Taliban is regrouping and has reached doorstep of Afghanistan.

Bloggers say once again the US will look towards the Pakistani military to maintain stability. That means putting its trust in another General Ashfaq Kayani.

On the other hand, India has mixed feelings at Musharraf's departure. And Delhi now fears a political vacuum will allow extremists more leeway.

But according to Martin Woollcott Pakistan's army will have to rethink its old strategies as the attempt to outwit India - its old rationale - is outdated.

He goes on the add that the army's insecurity has come full circle and extremists threaten to undermine Pakistan itself.

He also says that militant threat comes at a time when Pakistan is in a process of renewal. Liberal and secular candidates have won elections and feudal and tribal dominance in rural areas is fading and an expanding urban middle class wants a new kind of country.

Woollcott gets the last word when he warns what he calls an overprivileged and muddle-headed army to follow suit.