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The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world and dating back at least 5,000 years, spread over much of what is presently Pakistan. During the second millennium B.C., remnants of this culture fused with the migrating Indo-Aryan peoples.

The area underwent successive invasions in subsequent centuries from the Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Arabs (who brought Islam), Afghans, and Turks. The Mughal Empire flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries; the British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved, and India and Pakistan fought two wars - in 1947-48 and 1965 - over the disputed Kashmir territory. A third war between these countries in 1971 - in which India capitalized on Islamabad's marginalization of Bengalis in Pakistani politics - resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998.

The dispute over the state of Kashmir is ongoing, but discussions and confidence-building measures have led to decreased tensions since 2002.

Nuclear armed Pakistan continues to be a country with little leadership and even less direction. The new president of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari is juggling massive unemployment, inflation, a corrupt military and intelligence, a failing economy, national unrest, a simmering war with nuclear armed India and terrorism. The worst concern is that the country, with 50 nuclear bombs, may fall to extremists.

Most recently the chief of the Pakistan military, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, opened the front in Bajaur, a Taliban and Qaeda stronghold along the Afghan border. Pakistani law enforcement officials and residents of Bajaur and Swat say there have been many civilian deaths, but so far, no agency or government body has offered an estimate of those killed. Under urging from US President Obama, The Pakistanis are increasing the size of their effort in the western regions and are using drone missiles to target, attack and kill insurgents.

It’s estimated that 250,000 people have sought refuge in Afghanistan and in the cities of Pakistan provoking even more unrest, particularly since the government hasn’t the personnel, expertise of money to take care of these refugees and also, will not let the Us send in help lest the Pakistani government be identified as an extension of American policy. In the meantime, Al Quaeda provides help to these people and works very hard to convert them to terrorism.

Additionally Pakistan faces a possible second front in terrorism – a different kind – in the huge province of Baluchistan. Baluchistan was annexed by Pakistan over 60 years ago and the desire to regain independence has remained strong since then. The movement is growing, to some degree, fueled by the perception that the current Zardari  government is weak and unfocused. Three purported leaders of the independence movement were recently kidnapped and brutally murdered. The Baluch population believes those murders were carried out by Pakistani secret police.

Pakistani government and military leaders continue to struggle to control Islamist militants in the tribal areas. With Us help and at US urging, Pakistan is moving far more aggressively.

As a consequence, terrorist and suicide attacks in Pakistan’s cities – including a recent, brazen attack on Army barracks - have increased dramatically left many dead and unsure of where the country is going to be in a year or two, including its allies.

The concern is magnified by the fact that Pakistan has nuclear weapons.