Swat’s going on in Pakistan?

If you don’t know one irregular border tribal militia from another, then you need this Foreign Policy primer on Pakistan’s turbulent politics and, particularly, its Taliban problem. Unlike drier briefing notes available elsewhere, FP’s is chatty and it serves up some nuanced observations. For instance, what about frequently repeated claims that Pakistan’s notorious Inter-Services Intelligence is backing the Islamist radicals? The FP’s expert observes: "The ISI draws from the ranks of the regular Army (in addition to some civilians), the same Army that is commanded by Sandhurst-educated, Johnnie Walker Black Label-loving Anglophiles."

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