Analysts said that the assassination of Benazir Bhutto has set back the United States in its efforts to find a stable, democratic partner in Pakistan to combat Islamic extremism. Potential outcomes include widespread riots by Bhutto's supporters and the troubling possibility of Pakistan becoming a nuclear-armed, unstable Islamic state. Financial investors, who are already wary of Pakistan's political risk, believe that ongoing instability will increase this risk. Stephen Cohen of the Brookings Institution expressed concern about the impact of Bhutto's death on the idea of a liberal, moderate Pakistan and its potential repercussions on neighboring countries, Europe, and the United States. Cohen stated that the United States may not be able to make a significant impact at this point, as they had focused all their attention on supporting President Musharraf and had ignored Benazir's requests for communication until recently. The US had heavily invested resources and political influence to bring the exiled former prime minister back to Pakistan in October, persuading Musharraf to step down from his military position and agree to elections and power-sharing with her. However, now there are serious concerns about the situation, with decreased prospects for a democratic transition and heightened risks of attacks by extremist groups. Grare, a South Asia expert, pointed out that leaders of prominent political parties are being targeted and killed. He said that weakening the parties does not bode well for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan. President George W. Bush urged Pakistanis to honor Bhutto by continuing with the democratic process she supported. U.S. officials hope that Islamabad will proceed with the planned elections on Jan. 8. Security analyst Anthony Cordesman stated that Bhutto's death worsened an already unstable political situation in Pakistan. He expressed concern about the lack of a figure who could bring political stability, legitimate elections, and bridge the gap between Musharraf and the Pakistani people. Analysts cautioned that in a country known for conspiracy theories and intense politics, blame would be cast in all directions following the assassination, leading to potential violence fueled by grief and anger. Lisa Curtis from the Heritage Foundation emphasized the need to prioritize maintaining peace in Pakistan, advising against Musharraf imposing emergency rule for this purpose. Some analysts also raised doubts about Musharraf's ability to effectively combat terrorism, questioning how he could address issues in remote tribal areas if he couldn't protect a prominent politician in a supposedly secure city. Win Thin, a senior currency strategist at Brown Brothers Harriman & Co, inquired about the security of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal during crises. US officials maintained that there was no change in the assessment made last month, despite the turmoil caused by Musharraf's emergency rule. Cordesman, from CSIS, mentioned that Islamabad had taken measures with the help of the US and by studying other countries' policies to ensure the safety of its nuclear facilities. However, he questioned whether there was enough transparency for outsiders to confidently assess the security of Pakistan's nuclear weapons, warning that anyone who made a categorical statement about it might risk discrediting themselves.