The Most Dangerous Nation

By Patrick Appel
The Economist evaluates the situation in Pakistan:

The problem of Islamist militancy in Pakistan is very unlikely to be addressed satisfactorily in the near future. US effortsat least in their current formto force the issue are as likely to worsen the situation as to improve it. Perceived US interference in the region may seriously undermine the Pakistani government's will to tackle the problem. But even with the best intentions, a whole range of problems will hamper Pakistan's ability to improve the situation. For one, the government's efforts will depend on a military that has historically sought to undermine it, and that has already expressed reservations about Mr Zardari's handling of the current crisis. Also worrying is the increasing evidence that militant groups which initially fought for local causes (primarily the Kashmir issue) have now conflated their regional goals, training and tactics with the broader movement of global Islamist jihad.