Madeleine Wells

A few weeks ago I traveled all the way to JFK just to get a glimpse of Saida and Hassan’s first few minutes in America.

Flight 200 arrived at 12 p.m. last Tuesday at John F. Kennedy International Airport. After our first two hours of anxiously waiting with welcome signs in Arabic that drew suspicious glances from around the terminal, we went into the office and asked if it was possible that any passengers from the flight remained in immigration.

General and self-appointed President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan currently faces his stiffest opposition—from the public, Islamists, and elites alike—since taking office after a coup . The next few weeks will mark the return of two ex-premiers to Pakistan to challenge his military regime in upcoming elections, the results of which will have important consequences on domestic stability and relations with the U.S.