Like a Massive Earthquake""

Pakistan has become a reluctant ally with the West, and particularly the United States and NATO, in the 'war against terror'. Accepting American largess with alacrity under the guise of assisting in that 'war against terror', Islamabad had no real intention of putting itself out to extend aid in eradicating the Afghan Taliban they had themselves brought to life, much less al-Qaeda, twinning with the Taliban in their shared purpose.

They little imagined that the monster they encouraged would establish a Pakistan-centered version, to imperil the sovereignty of the nation. The government, through the intervention of their military had, after all, always enjoyed good relations with the tribal chieftains, and signed numerous agreements with them. That the military would leave the Waziristan area to them, and they would in turn refrain from infringing on government-controlled territory.

Now that the Pakistani Taliban have emerged determined to bring fundamentalist Islamist Sharia to the entire geography, the government of Pakistan understands it has little option but to shove back, to restore the rule of law around Peshawar, and extend it to the tribal regions. In the process, defeating the ferocious determination of the Taliban and bring peace to the region.

If they can. Which they claim they can. "Even if we have to die, we'll keep fighting these terrorists until our last breath", bravely declaimed a senior provincial minister on visiting the scene of yet another atrocity visited on the civilians of Peshawar. Where another suicide blast killed women and children shopping in a market because the Taliban find it offensive that women are out in public, shopping.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is utterly outraged at the "appalling loss of innocent lives", and so too is U.S. President Barack Obama, and his Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Their outrage will not impress the Taliban, whose vision of a future Pakistan is one without schools for girls, with women enveloped entirely in black, and with total censure of music and laughter.

Urged by the United States to hit harder, faster, more deliberately at their now-perceived common enemy, the Pakistan military resents American interference in their country fully as much as the civilians who lay blame on foreigners for the instability that now wracks their country. Adding insult to injury is the aid package stipulating the Pakistan administration gain firm control of their military.

And, above all, that the administration and the military give ample proof of their ability to maintain safeguards for its nuclear facilities. This kind of gross interference in the affairs of the country are not taken with the good grace of those grateful for massive infusions of funding and the handing over of technologically-advanced arms.

This peculiar alliance of dire mutual need is not playing out in a choreography of smooth interplay between trusted allies. Given the adversarial nature of the principals, and the history of the region, throw in the intransigence of the Pakistan military and the leavening dose of religion, little wonder.