Musharraf

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The resignation of Pervez Musharraf removes a favorite bogeyman of Islamic militants both in and outside of Pakistan, but the government that forced him out is unlikely to change the policies that keep the jihadists fighting.

"It will take away a symbol of hatred but the essential issues don't end with Musharraf," said Shafqat Mahmood, a former government minister and political analyst.

The outgoing Pakistani president — who abandoned Pakistan's support of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and sided with Washington after the Sept. 11 attacks — has been largely sidelined since February elections brought his foes to power.

Musharraf announced today that he will resign, just days ahead of impeachment in parliament over the U.S. ally's attempts to impose authoritarian rule on his turbulent nation.

An emotional Musharraf said he wanted to spare the nation from a perilous impeachment battle and that he was satisfied that all he had done "was for the people and for the country."

"I hope the nation and the people will forgive my mistakes," Musharraf said in a televised address, much of which was devoted to defending his record and refuting criticisms.

But the new civilian government has done surprisingly little to change his policies in the militant-infested northwest regions bordering Afghanistan and wants to retain close ties with the U.S., supporting the international fight against Islamic extremism.

Mahmood said poverty, poor governance and anger at the U.S. presence in Afghanistan combined to strengthen the pro-Taliban movement on both sides of the border.

Although suicide bombings overall have dropped since last year in Pakistan, the insurgent threat is as pervasive as ever.

"It's a virulent cancer that is eating into our society," said defense analyst Ikram Sehgal.

The coalition government's efforts to strike peace deals with militants are in tatters, and — like Musharraf — it is back to relying on the military to try to root out the extremists.

Pakistani Taliban spokesman Maulvi Umar said today that the Islamist movement was "happy" that Musharraf has resigned, but he called for an end to "his policies" — mainly the use of the military.

"This is a positive change, but it is just the beginning," Umar said, promising, "If the government ends these policies, the Taliban will stop their activities immediately."

Musharraf's own future home may depend on the militant threat against him. The outgoing president has already survived multiple assassination attempts and there is speculation that he may have to seek exile abroad for his own safety.