Pakistan: Muddling Through, Crisis by Crisis

A plethora of books independent and edited have been written on what is happening within Pakistan and where it is heading—by academics, journalists, retired bureaucrats and strategic analysts within Pakistan and elsewhere. Why is there such an interest in Pakistan, in the last few years, especially on its problems and its future? Undoubtedly, the central role of Pakistan—both positive and negative, in the War against Terrorism in the Af-Pak region is a major reason for the interest. Besides, there are three other major interests—the role of Pakistan in the future stability of Afghanistan, and the region, especially its relationship with India, the internal struggle within Pakistan along the moderate and radical divide. These four issues together keep analysts glued to events in Pakistan on a day to day basis. The objective of this volume led by Stephen Cohen and a host of authors from the US, Pakistan and India, as mentioned in the preface is to ‘briefly set forth important variables or factors that might shape Pakistan’s future and to speculate on the likely outcomes.’