Conclusions

The democratic transition of May 2013 is a significant development in Pakistan's chequered political history. Core infrastructural developments such as energy, trade/transport, and communications are now almost invariably liked to regional and global imperatives; and they are sometimes enmeshed with more familiar forms of security calculus such as the siting of transnational oil and gas pipelines. Furthermore, the adoption of a 'full-spectrum deterrence' approach and the decision to build tactical nuclear weapons by Pakistan will have profound impact on crisis stability in the region. A more constructive approach to the security challenges may be found in fuller integration of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) into Pakistan's political mainstream as a means to further marginalise militants in the wake of the Zarb-e-Azb operations, following which Pashtuns and the vast majority of Pakistanis may be willing to redefine the region and reshape its governance.