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ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan's political situation worsens amid street protests, concern is growing that the powerful army may choose to intervene.
The Xinhua news agency yesterday quoted Indian foreign- ministry sources as saying that New Delhi feared a military coup in the wake of a face-off between President Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
That confrontation escalated yesterday after police put the opposition leader under house arrest in Lahore to keep him from leading protests.
But he ignored the order and went to address a crowd, urging them to march on the capital: "We don't accept this decision. The house arrest is illegal and immoral," he said.
Mr Sharif has endorsed a protest campaign by anti-government lawyers.
Amid the rising tension, the United States' top military officer, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Mike Mullen, told PBS that the last thing Pakistani army chief Ashfaq Kayani wanted was to lead a coup.
However, he also said he had to try and calm General Kayani on several occasions when the army chief expressed anger at the actions of Pakistan's political establishment.
"He wants to do the right thing... But he is in a very tough spot," said Admiral Mullen.
But there is not a "high probability right now" that a political crisis would force a coup.
In a reconciliatory move, the government said last Saturday it would seek a review of a Supreme Court ruling that barred Mr Sharif and his brother Shahbaz from elected office.
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