The presidency of Musharraf featured the arrival of liberal forces in national power for the first time in the history of Pakistan . Early initiatives were taken towards the continuation of economic liberalisation , privatisation and freedom of the media in 1999 . The Citibank executive , Shaukat Aziz , returned to the country to take control of the economy . In 2000 the government issued a nationwide amnesty to the political workers of liberal parties , sidelining the conservatives and leftists in the country . Intending the policy to create a counter-cultural attack on India , Musharraf personally signed and issued hundreds of licenses to the private sector to open new media outlets , free from government influence . On 12May 2000 the Supreme Court ordered the Government to hold general elections by 12October 2002 . Ties with the United States were renewed by Musharraf who endorsed the American invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 . Confrontation with India continued over Kashmir , which led to a serious military standoff in 2002 after India alleged Pakistan-backed Kashmiri insurgants carried out the 2001 Indian Parliament attack
2001 Indian Parliament attack
2001 Indian Parliament attack
History of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan