Punjab and Sindh are the heart of the country. While the residents of these areas do not like the idea of American incursions, they view them as off-centre regions of the country. The Pashtuns themselves have mixed views towards the Pakistani nation-state – they note that Islamabad comes to them when they need men to fight the Russians, Afghans, Indians, etc., but when it is time to spend some development money, most goes to Punjab.

Pakistan has the means to avoid this – if they shake out elements of the ISI that are harboring and aiding Taliban and Al Qaeda. Quetta has pretty much become Taliban central.

All opposed, I would suggest go fishing on 11-4-08.

Even way back in the 1970s, Pakistan was always a very mercurial ally at best. They caused us a many problems as they solved during the Russian debacle, not least because China regards them as a strategically meaningful region, if not an out-and-out ally – something our sabre-rattling pols never find time to mention.

I reluctantly supported our invasion of Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11. But all of our efforts should be bent toward getting out again. I do not believe that any power that has ever invaded it has experienced anything less than some degree of tragedy in the end. There is a good reason why people like Talbot Mundy and Kipling chose the region for their darker stories. As Kipling said, “The Great Game isn’t over until the last man dies”