Charlie: Where we cannot bring substantial change, we can say things that signal more empathy with the victim population. Contrast the US government and media discourse on Darfur with that on Chechnya over the years. The West stays relatively quiet on Chechnya because there is a political cost associated with criticising Putin. If we really want to undermine global jihadism, we must pay that cost.

On Kashmir it is more complicated because the Pakistani state is so heavily invested in the conflict. But the US could put more pressure on India to take confidence-building measures (e.g. removing the Indian “consulates” along the Afghan-Pakistani border). The US should also avoid blatant preferential treatment such as the 2005 US-indian nuclear deal. Again there is a political cost involved, but “no pain, no gain”.

Pusthun nationalism is certainly a factor in the Taliban, but not in other Pakistani groups, many of which are Punjabi. You are absolutely right, FATA is severly underdeveloped and there is much local political capital to be gained from improving the local infrastructure.

How much of the problem in Pakistan is in effect Pushtun nationalism? Have Pushtun’s become fed up by Pakistan bring controlled by the Punjabi Armed Forces/Civil Service and Sindhi business community?

Very little government money is spent in Pushtun areas ( Waziristan included). How many Pakistan leaders over the last 40 years been of Pushtun origin; Ayub Khan comes to mind as last one.

Let mainstream Muslim clerics take care of the theology.

Are you referring to clerics who do not oppose American policies in the Middle East and elsewhere, but will simply reiterate whatever political agenda is handed to them by their masters (or Rulers…)