South Asia Monitor: Pakistan: In the Cauldron - March 3, 2010

Pakistan is beset by an increasingly violent homegrown insurgency and a weak and unpopular civilian government with difficult relations with the powerful military, just as the United States is launching a new strategy in Afghanistan designed to regain military momentum and lay the groundwork for a political settlement. This strategy cannot work unless Pakistan is part of it, and so far it is not clear whether Pakistan is working in tandem with the United States or is playing along for tactical reasons. In the end, what happens with the Pakistani insurgency will have an enormous impact on U.S. interests in the region.

Teresita C. Schaffer, Terrence Smith