Pakistan: Clear, Hold, Build

While the United States continues to contemplate the least-worst policy towards Afghanistan, Pakistan appears finally to have jettisoned any ambiguity over its relationship with Islamist extremism by launching a major ground offensive on South Waziristan. Whereas the US is focusing on counter-insurgency, Pakistan has simply ordered a military campaign, forcing tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of civilians to flee. Longer-term objectives in both countries are proving even more difficult to achieve.