September 9, 2007 (LPAC)--As the crisis in Pakistan escalates, retired Marine General Anthony Zinni, the former commander in chief of U.S. Central Command, wrote an op ed in the Washington Post entitled "Musharraf matters, stand by our man in Pakistan."

Zinni writes that "we may criticize some of his "undemocratic" governing decisions and his failure to prevent al-Qaeda's leadership from gaining a foothold in the volatile border area with Afghanistan, but we should acknowledge the price the Pakistani military has paid in this battle and recognize the political courage it took for Musharraf to wage it at all.... I am disappointed that our media and our political leaders make little or no mention of the numbers of Pakistani troops killed or wounded in this war. Their casualties exceed those of any coalition army, including America's, fighting the Taliban and al-Qaeda in South Asia.... Allies are supposed to be partners, not paragons...."

Meanwhile Reuters reports that the crisis in Pakistan is escalating with the expected return of Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shabaz from exile on Monday. Supporters of exiled former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif claim 2000 of his backers have been detained in Punjab province on the eve of his planned return. Musharraf exiled Sharif to Saudi Arabia in 2000 as part of what the government said was an agreement that Sharif would stay in exile for 10 years. Sharif claims the agreement was for five years. The deal had been guaranteed by the Suadi Arabian royal family and Lebanese leader Rafiq Hariri, who was later assassinated. Saudi intelligence chief Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz and Hariri's son, Saad, met with Musharraf in Islamabad on Saturday. Prince Muqrin told reporters that he is hoping Sharif honors the original agreement.

According to the Hindu, Sharif and his brother Shabaz are due to fly into Islamabad from London on Monday. Pakistani media reports that Sharif will be deported immediately and that Saudi Arabia has offered to keep the Sharif brothers in exile again. Supporters are planning to reach the airport and not allow the plane to take off in the event of Sharif's deportation. A prison cell has also reportedly been prepared at a fort in Punjab for Sharif and his brother should they be arrested. The government has reopened corruption cases against them.