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The Dummy's Guide to Pakistan

That things are reeling out of control in Pakistan seems almost beyond question.

But whilst there might be much discussion and commentary about the country, few understand it.

FP [Foreign Policy] in what it describes as "The Idiots Guide to Pakistan" attempts to explain it all and put into some sort of context.

"After eight years of a White House that often seemed blinkered by the threats posed by Pakistan, the Obama administration seems to grasp the severity of the myriad crises affecting the South Asian state. The media has followed suit and increased its presence and reporting, a trend confirmed by CNN’s decision to set up a bureau in Islamabad last year.

And yet, the uptick in coverage hasn’t necessarily clarified the who’s-doing-what-to-whom confusion in Pakistan. Some commentators continue to confuse the tribal areas with the North-West Frontier Province. And the word lashkars is used to describe all kinds of otherwise cross-purposed groups, some fighting the Taliban, some fighting India, and some fighting Shiites."

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