The North West Frontier provinces are rarely tamed for long.There is little enthusiasm amongst army commanders for a prolonged civil war in an area where its writ barely runs and where clan hostility determines who if anyone supports the government in distant Islamabad.
It is nearly six years since 9/11 when a prodigious bounty was placed on the head of Osama Bin Laden .Yet despite the recent doubling of it no one has come forward to claim a sum that is unimaginable even to the wealthiest regional warlords.

The fact remains that President Musharraff has little support at home for any military action that is favoured by the US invader.Yet without the latter's continuing generous economic and diplomatic support he would be unlikely to remain in office to oversee yet another attempt at democratic government in this greatly conflicted nation.

BILL JACKSON, NOTTINGHAM, UK

Much to India's credit and its security forces, it did not allow the jehadists to carve a base in Kashmir from which they could trouble India in over 20 years. The same jehadists however created a state in Pakistan, which is now throttling its creator, the military.

While Indians achive one economic success after another, Pakistanis are resigned to a failed social and political experiment, which started the day it came into being. I feel really sorry for the tragedy that has befallen us.

Khurshid Zaman, St. Petersburg, Florida

Ronald Reagan gets credit for bringing down the Soviet empire and ending the Cold War. This is how he did it. He created the Taliban in concert with Pakistan ISI. He "ended" the Cold War but started a hot war. Jihadi terrorism has been created intentionally by US foreign policy. It was, of course, never intended to backfire.
The CIA helped create madrassa's that inflamed muslim extremism. Prior to 1975, it was not an issue anywhere on the globe. Then our meddlings in Iran, Pakistan. Now in Iraq - we never learn.

Michael Babcock, Norwalk, CT, United States

Pakistan created the Taliban, with CIA's help, also created the Modern Jihadist movement to drive Russia out of Afghanistan. It is up to USA and Pakistan to put the beast back in it's cage. We can no longer afford a "lawless" region in Pakistan where Al Qaeda and the taliban can operate freely. This area is the center of global terrorism - NOT Iraq. Although Bush is doing an admirable job of creating a new terrorist center there. This is not a problem related to 9/11 or 7/7. It is history playing out for the past 30 years. . . .

Mukul Banbihari, San Francisco, CA, USA

Musharraf will succeed as his objective is prosperity for Pakistan. Bhutto doesn't care about Pakistan and is only interested in getting back in power. However, I agree with Musharraf's strategy of working with her to carve out an alliance so that moderate forces can be fortified to battle extremism. However, Mushrraf must not make too many concessions with Bhutto as she will destabilize him when given an opportunity, which will further the cause of extremism. We need a strong and sensible leader like Mushrraf over the coming years!

Arsalan, London, UK

The point is that if the militants win, they will get their hands on Musharaf's nukes. This is clearly one of their unstated objectives.

Nicholas Stevens, Clayton, California