Guest: Mira Kamdar, Bernard Schwartz Fellow at the Asia Society and the author of "Planet India: The Turbulent Rise of the Largest Democracy and the Future of Our World," and Shazeb Jillani, Editor, BBC's Urdu service

Guest: Mark Dummett, BBC

Guest: M.J. Gohel, director of the Asia-Pacific Foundation, a London-based international affairs think tank

Yesterday Pakistani politicians and Western diplomats said that Pakistan’s President, Pervez Musharraf, is expected to resign in the next few days rather than face impeachment charges. The consequences of Musharraf’s departure remain to be seen. Will a stronger government emerge? Will the coalition government collapse in the face of a presidential vacancy? C. Christine Fair, Senior Political Scientist at RAND, joins the Takeaway to lay down the various scenarios that could play out in the days and weeks to come.

Some are calling it the end of the Musharaf era ... reports today say Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf will step down in the next 72 hours rather than face impeachment. It's been a rapid descent for the man who once ruled a critical ally in the US's war on terror has lost political backing not only from civilian allies but more importantly from the powerful military that he led for nearly a decade. Musharraf's formerly staunch US supporters are now according to reports quietly urging him to go with dignity.

President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan — whose political opponents are calling for him to face a vote of confidence or be impeached — has urged national unity and reconciliation. In a televised speech to mark Pakistan's Independence Day, Mr Musharraf said all Pakistanis should put aside their differences and work to make the country strong.

Guest: Shazeb Jillani, Editor, BBC's Urdu service

Guest: Daniel Markey, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations

Pakistan's coalition legislature has divided over the issue but says it's looking to impeach President Pervez Musharraf. Musharraf has said he'd rather resign than face impeachment. Though he gave up control of the military last year, he still has the power to dissolve the government.

Sorting through the proliferation of nuclear confusion

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President George Bush and Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani met yesterday at The Oval Office. It’s Gilani’s first visit since Pakistan formed a coalition government earlier this year. Speaking to reporters, the president called Pakistan “a strong ally” and a “vibrant democracy.” The meeting comes as U.S. officials have called on Pakistan to stop militants from organizing cross-Afghanistan-border attacks.

Guest: Eric Schmitt, The New York Times

Today, the Indian parliament votes on an energy deal crafted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President George W. Bush. If the bill is ratified, India will gain access to American fuel and technology imports as long as it opens its civilian nuclear facilities for inspection. A no-confidence vote will force Singh’s resignation and bring the opposition party to power.

It took documentary filmmaker Sabiha Sumar six months to persuade President Musharraf of Pakistan to have dinner with her and film it. In “Dinner with the President: A Nation’s Journey,” Sumar traveled around Pakistan, trying to work out why democracy is so elusive in her country. Sumar talked with clerics, farmers, youngsters partying, truckers and the liberal elite in her quest.

The American newspaper business is struggling and few know it better than Miami Herald copy editor Brayden Simms. In a cost-cutting move, his job is one of many expected to be outsourced to India. The Herald isn’t alone. Major papers across the country are dramatically reducing staff, and a few are picking up the slack with help from abroad. Roy Peter Clark, senior scholar at the Poynter Institute, says it's a controversial issue in newsrooms even as industry woes continue.

Guest: Martin Patience, BBC