Recent drone attacks in North and South Waziristan can mean one of two things: either the Pakistan government is collaborating with the U.S. government in a new push against Taliban militants in Pakistan, or the U.S. government is continuing to ignore Pakistani grievances.

Given the recent tripling of U.S. aid to Pakistan without any pre-conditions, Islamabad’s habit of funneling counter-insurgency funds toward the purchase of conventional weapons is likely to continue.

The cohesion of the Pakistani state has faced many challenges in the past decade, but none as grave as the threat posed by the radicalization of its North-West Frontier Province (NWFP).

Just who was behind last week’s terrorist attack in Mumbai, India? Of all the players involved, everyone seems to have been advantaged by the carnage.  It may be too early to determine just who the mastermind is, but a careful analysis of quickly unfolding events ought to reveal just who had the most to gain – and, in geopolitics, the player with the most to gain is usually the culprit.

The resignation of hundreds of Pakistani police personnel due to fear of Taliban reprisals, and escalating tension along the Indo-Pak border eclipsing Islamabad's focus on militancy along its Afghan border, may result in Pakistan's NorthWest Frontier Province (NWFP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) falling to Pakistan Taliban control.

Recent brazen anti-American militant attacks on supply convoys in Pakistan have succeeded in capturing a number of U.S. military vehicles destined for the Afghan war.  The attacks underscore the importance of Pakistan, as both an ally and supply route, for the American war in Afghanistan. 

A pre-dawn raid conducted in Pakistan by US commandos from Afghanistan has been condemned by Pakistani officials as a breach of sovereignty, reflecting concerns that the US’ unilateral operations in the “war on terror” could foment social unrest in Pakistan, undermine the civilian government, and imperil US-Pakistani relations.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf’s decision to resign rather than face impeachment by parliament will have both domestic and international implications: a political power vacuum for a fractious Pakistan, and the loss of a once indispensible ally in the “war on terror” for the US.

Impeachment proceedings against Pervez Musharraf are gaining momentum. Once he is replaced, however, the parliamentary infighting will continue as a new power structure coalesces. In the meantime, Pakistan lists as its economy implodes and lawlessness spreads in the provinces.

Al Qaeda and the Taliban have carved out Pakistani havens for themselves near the Afghan border and continue to gain political and military strength.