President Pervez Musharraf

As a nuclear power bordered by Afghanistan, China, Iran, and India, Pakistan’s global strategic importance cannot be overstated. Pervez Musharraf was President of Pakistan at the time of the September 11 attacks and growing Muslim militancy; Time magazine described him as having “the most dangerous job in the world.” Although President Musharraf became the United States’ chief ally in the region in the struggle against Al Qaeda and global terror, he was the victim of two assassination attempts and his internal policies alienated Islamic fundamentalists.