An unexplained dispute between Pakistan’s Interior Minister and an elite paramilitary unit under his command is adding to political confusion in Islamabad, prompting questions about a rift in ties between civilian leaders and the powerful military. The spat comes at a moment of heightened concern over the feverish political climate in nuclear-armed Pakistan, which the US seeks to include in its new strategy for South Asia.
Interior Minister Ashan Iqbal was taken by surprise when the elite Rangers unit, which prov-ides security around Parliament, withdrew its guards without explanation on Wednesday.