Pakistan is one of the Islamic world's hottest hotbeds of fundamentalism. But it's also a country with an almost entirely secular (if mildly autocratic) government, headed by strongman Pervez Musharraf, who faces acerbic opposition both from reformers on his left and fundamentalist clerics on his right, and has struggled to preserve an uneasy friendship with the United States by promising to root out terrorism. The December assassination of Benazir Bhutto only adds to the country's unrest, postponing elections that a top Bhutto aide charges were "thoroughly rigged."http://www.newser.com/2008 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorThu, 28 Aug 2008 7:50:32 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/36023/us-pakistan-hold-secret-security-meet.html?refid=rss_all_defaultA group of top US and Pakistani military officials, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and David Petraeus, met in secret aboard an aircraft carrier Tuesday to discuss the deteriorating situation along the Afghan border, the New York Times reports. The US has been frustrated lately by the Taliban’s ever-growing capabilities—particularly across the border in Afghanistan—and Pakistan’s inability or unwillingness to drive them from its southern environs.http://www.newser.com/story/36023/us-pakistan-hold-secret-security-meet.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 28 Aug 2008 6:37:58 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35821/bhutto-widower-plagued-by-mental-illness.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe leading candidate to succeed Pervez Musharraf as president of Pakistan has a long history of mental illness and was suffering from severe psychiatric problems as recently as 2007, reports the Financial Times . Asif Ali Zardari, who took over the Pakistan People's Party after the assassination of his wife Benazir Bhutto, has been diagnosed with dementia, major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, court documents say.http://www.newser.com/story/35821/bhutto-widower-plagued-by-mental-illness.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 26 Aug 2008 6:30:20 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35813/us-envoy-dodges-gun-attack-in-pakistan.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe top official in a US consulate in Pakistan and two others escaped serious injury today when a gunman opened fire on their car, CNN reports. Official Lynne Tracey, her bodyguard and driver were heading to the consulate office in violence-wracked Peshawar when their car was blocked by a shooter in a  Land Cruiser. Tracey's driver threw the car in reverse and sped off as two bullets hit the engine, but no one inside was hurt.http://www.newser.com/story/35813/us-envoy-dodges-gun-attack-in-pakistan.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 26 Aug 2008 4:13:57 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35736/party-quits-pakistan-coalition.html?refid=rss_all_defaultPakistan’s coalition government collapsed today, the Wall Street Journal reports, with the Pakistan Muslim League—led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif—breaking with the Pakistan People’s Party. Sharif said his party was quitting the alliance because it wouldn’t restore judges sacked by just-ousted president Pervez Musharraf. The PPP, led by Asif Ali Zardari, appears likely to find other, smaller parties to join a ruling parliamentary coalition.http://www.newser.com/story/35736/party-quits-pakistan-coalition.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMon, 25 Aug 2008 9:50:39 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35668/democracy-to-avenge-bhuttos-death-zardari.html?refid=rss_all_defaultDemocracy will avenge Benazir Bhutto's death and diminish rising extremism in Pakistan, Bhutto's widower tells Newsweek . Asif Ali Zardari, now a presidential nominee, says he cut no deal with departing president Pervez Musharraf and hopes he will stay to witness rule by the people. “Personally I would like him to be around and see us flourish,” he said. “I think that would be the revenge of Benazir Bhutto.”http://www.newser.com/story/35668/democracy-to-avenge-bhuttos-death-zardari.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSun, 24 Aug 2008 11:46:44 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35620/us-weighs-direct-pakistan-strikes.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFrustrated with what some see as unproductive new leadership in Pakistan and fearing a strengthening al-Qaeda, Pentagon officials are considering a unilateral mission to root out militants hiding in the country, the Los Angeles Times reports. The CIA has backed such a move for months, but some officials remain concerned that a strike would shake Pakistan’s support for the US.http://www.newser.com/story/35620/us-weighs-direct-pakistan-strikes.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSat, 23 Aug 2008 9:35:03 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35552/pakistan-rivals-agree-to-debate-fate-of-judges.html?refid=rss_all_defaultPakistan's rival parties will debate next week whether to reinstate judges fired by ousted President Musharraf, a sign of compromise on an issue that has threatened to dissolve the ruling coalition, Reuters reports. Meanwhile, the nation's biggest party, the PPP, has nominated Benazir Bhutto's widower, Asif Ali Zardari, to replace Musharraf. That makes him the clear frontrunner in the Sept. 6 election.http://www.newser.com/story/35552/pakistan-rivals-agree-to-debate-fate-of-judges.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 22 Aug 2008 9:37:46 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35529/toll-hits-70-in-pakistan-bombings.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe death toll in yesterday's twin suicide blasts in Pakistan has risen to 70 people as the tragedy continues to rattle the civilian government just days after the ouster of President Pervez Musharraf, the New York Times reports. Pakistan's Taliban has claimed responsibility for the bombings at the gates of the country's main weapons complex, and warned of more to come if the government fails to cease operations against militants in the country's tribal areas.http://www.newser.com/story/35529/toll-hits-70-in-pakistan-bombings.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 22 Aug 2008 3:40:41 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35456/suicide-bombers-kill-59-in-pakistan.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTwin Taliban suicide bombings at Pakistan's largest weapons complex killed at least 59 people today, heightening the turmoil following Pervez Musharraf's ouster as president. The bombers struck two different gates of the government weapons complex just as workers were leaving. The complex, comprising 12 factories, is located in Wah, a garrison city 20 miles west of the capital, Islamabad.http://www.newser.com/story/35456/suicide-bombers-kill-59-in-pakistan.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 21 Aug 2008 10:18:53 CDT