Haroon Siddiqui - Now's the time to help Pakistan

What we are witnessing is the Afghanization of Pakistan – the seepage of the Afghan contagion.

Not just because the Taliban, Al Qaeda and their associates control vast lands in Pakistan along the Afghan border. The more dangerous development is that they pose a greater threat to Pakistan with their lethal ability to sow mayhem in the urban areas and beyond.

The ambush on the Sri Lankan cricket team was reminiscent of the attack in Mumbai in November and on India's parliament in New Delhi in 2001, which almost led to a war between the two nations.

Pakistan is also losing the war on terrorism. No greater proof was needed than his recent sharia deal with the devil, Baitullah Mehsud in the Swat Valley, the man accused of masterminding Benazir's murder.

Pakistan is losing the war on terror for the same reason the U.S. is: overreliance on warfare.

Pakistan is also undergoing several political and economic crises.

Loss of confidence had dried up investment long before the worldwide economic meltdown. Bankruptcy was averted only with a $7.6 billion loan from the IMF.

Moving in for the kill, Zardari dismissed Shahbaz's government in Punjab, the largest province. The tug of war is spilling into the streets, and may continue next week when Sharif hopes to revive last year's memorable lawyers' rebellion to restore the chief justice.

Pakistan could use a national unity government to focus on the economic crisis and the raging militancy. But its politicians are otherwise occupied.

While the world may be tempted to give up on them, and Pakistan, nothing would be more short-sighted. It was the failed state of Afghanistan that spawned 9/11. Pakistan seems headed that way.

The Obama administration is determined not to abandon Afghanistan or Pakistan. It has grasped the linkages. Has Ottawa?

If so, what is it prepared to do? That's the question that's coming our way in the next few weeks.