What do you propose the US to do in regards to Pakistan? The US cannot disentangle from the region, at least till its troops remain in Afghanistan. They cannot reign in Pakistan’s ISI (indeed, the govt of Pakistan in a way is bound up with the ISI) but they have to maintain diplomatic relations with Pakistan. I am at a loss myself thinking about this situation so I would like your opinion on it.

I am also very puzzled by the “Pakistan is so unstable” meme that has been floating around since the Bhutto assasination. Pakistan is unstable but no more so than many South Asian countries. I would say that the most unstable region in Pakistan tend to border Afghanistan with the Pashtuns being the group delivering most of the the unstability. Other regions, especially the Punjab and Sind are relatively homogenous and peaceful (and they keep their bitterness to themselves instead of creating a defacto Pastunistan). So, its not uniquely unstable – many regions in India, for instance are much more heterogenous and much more unstable.

That being said, getting involved in Pakistan militarily would be a disaster of unproportioned precendence and would make Iraq look like a joke. Not because of nukes – the only nation in danger of Pakistan’s nukes would be India- but because of the breakdown of law and order which would make Partition look peaceful.

And no oil.

Truly an entanglement to be eschewed.