The revelation this week that Pakistan's nuclear installations have repeatedly been targeted by militants serves to remind us, as if any reminder was necessary, that this nuclear-armed and fractious nation poses huge challenges for us all.
In spite of his chequered history, and reputation, President Asif Zardari has scored some notable and surprising successes in his 11 months as Pakistan's leader. He has waged an effective and popular campaign against the Taliban in the Swat Valley, debunking the supposed wisdom that a great number of Pakistanis harbour sympathies for the militants. He has also moved to adjust strategic priorities, saying that India, his country's age-old rival, is no longer the enemy. This is a step towards an important rebalancing of the army's deployment and focus. He has also seemed relatively willing to assist the latest Nato push against the Taliban in Afghanistan, by trying to shore up the two countries' porous border.
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