ABSTRACT
For several decades Pakistan has been a hotbed of jihadism, which is at least state-tolerated if not state-sponsored. Pakistan held general elections in February 2008, which ushered in a democratic government and the military, led by a weakened dictator, General Pervez Musharraf, ostensibly gave up power. With General Sharif and the army firmly in the driving seat on foreign policy, Pakistan continued to act simultaneously as what former US diplomat Peter Tomsen had described as both the arsonist and the fire fighter. Tomsen had noted presciently, If Pakistan hews to its fireman and arsonist policy in Afghanistan, the [President Barack] Obama administration will likely make little progress in Afghanistan, the most valuable contribution that America can make to Afghan peace lies not in Afghanistan but in Pakistan. Unfortunately, the United States, despite being able to see through Pakistan's Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde act, seems to keep falling for that ruse.
