By Kathy Gannon
Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, Oct. 13, 1999; 3:52 p.m. EDT

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan –– Pakistan's new military leader came under pressure to restore democracy Wednesday after his troops swept away the elected government, raising fears around the world at the prospect of army rule in a nuclear-armed nation.

Pakistan's nuclear rival, India, put its troops on alert and watched warily for the next step by Gen. Pervaiz Musharraf, a man Indians blame for months of bloody fighting this summer in disputed Kashmir.

Musharraf, head of Pakistan's army, gave no hint about his plans Wednesday, maintaining silence after announcing before dawn that his troops had ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Tuesday's lightning coup – sparked by Sharif's attempt to fire Musharraf – capped months of growing army resentment against the premier for backing away from the fight over Kashmir. President Clinton pressured Sharif into convincing Islamic fighters to pull back, reportedly outraging and humiliating army leaders.

In Washington, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright warned the coup created a "level of uncertainty" in South Asia. She said U.S. officials had been in contact with Pakistan's military leaders, trying to persuade them to restore democratic government.

"A military takeover of this kind ... does make it difficult to continue business as usual," she said.

India and Pakistan, which conducted tit-for-tat nuclear tests last year, have fought three wars in 52 years, two of them over Kashmir.

Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon played down worries over Pakistan's nuclear weapons program, saying in Washington that the coup had not changed the situation since control of the weapons program had always been in the hands of the military.

Officials from both countries dismissed fears of a Pakistani attack on India. But India said efforts to revive their peace process would be delayed until the situation in Pakistan stabilized.

While Sharif remained under house arrest Wednesday, Musharraf met with President K.R. Narayanan and a range of politicians.

That raised speculation that he may try to cobble together an administration of former politicians and technocrats to rule the country.

Musharraf's troops moved swiftly in Pakistan's main cities only an hour after Sharif announced the general's dismissal. The soldiers seized government buildings and airports and shut down state-run TV and radio for several hours.

Many Pakistanis danced in the streets, praising the army for getting rid of an elected leader who had become increasingly despised for his heavy-handed rule and economic mismanagement.

Before dawn, Musharraf went on the air to announce the military takeover. He said his forces had acted "as a last resort" to stop Sharif's government, which he accused of "systematically destroying" the state and driving the economy toward collapse.

The general urged calm and promised "very soon" to announce his plans for Pakistan's future. He did not elaborate.

Aside from setting up a provisional government, Musharraf could call elections – a move required within three months under the constitution – or try to rule himself.

From around the world came demands he hand power back to a democratic government.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged the army to restore civilian rule quickly, and the International Monetary Fund said it was cutting off aid to Pakistan until democracy returned.

In another sign of growing isolation, the Commonwealth – a grouping of former British colonies – said it might suspend Pakistan's membership, a move last taken in 1995 against Nigeria. European Union also said it would postpone a new trade deal with Pakistan for the time being.

In India, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee expressed concern about the coup and said India was willing to talk to any Pakistani regime. But his foreign minister, Jaswant Singh, said negotiations would have to wait until the situation normalizes.

Pakistan's army spokesman reacted angrily to India's military alert along the border.

"I think that India's actions are totally absurd putting its forces on alert ... as if Pakistan is going to try to precipitate a war." Brig. Rashid Quereshi told The Associated Press.

In an apparent warning to India, Musharraf said "no outside forces" should try to take advantage of the "prevailing situation in Pakistan ... We shall preserve the integrity and sovereignty of our country to the last drop of blood."

Many in both countries believe Musharraf orchestrated an incursion this spring by Islamic militants into Indian territory in the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir. That incursion led to months of bloody fighting with Indian troops.

The fighting – which India says also involved Pakistani troops – wrecked the nascent dialogue between the two countries and many feared it would spiral into full-fledged war.

The army has ruled Pakistan for 25 of its 52 years. The last military ruler, Gen. Mohammed Zia-ul Haq, ruled for 11 years with an iron hand. His death in 1988 paved the way for a return of democracy to Pakistan.

But the intervening years were difficult ones for democracy here, with a succession of elections, dismissals and appointments leading up to the coup Tuesday.