Good to know that every country want influence over their neighbors - here is the little difference USA was a super power back then & even today. While Pakistan wasn't even existed in 1939 and well already cut in half after our such adventures in 1971.
Now again i think time has come to make some good decisions, and to look at the reasons why Afghan from up to down hate Pakistan, lets take this brotherly Muslim nation notion step aside and talk about the realties. The concept of strategic depth existed, because Pak Army know exactly they will be cut in half if a full conventional war started with India, our jazba of so called jihad will not work when bullets are coming in return.
As far nuclear weapons concerned, Pakistan will never fire them until they see cities like Lahore, karachi or Islamabad is falling. I don't see any reason why Pak will fire nukes if indian's just cut it half from thar desert to the afghan border. This is just junk in the middle, probably indian policy thinkers envisioned creating a type of buffer zone in the divided pak ..etc etc. It's time to take the 180 degree turn and figure out our problems according to our status, and that status doesn't make us regional power - china, india, russia & america are regional powers not Pakistan we are not even close, or as bhutto said and zardari said again we will fight for 1000 years for kashmir, yeh right my ass - it's all about water for Pakistan and for India/China/Russia/USA about strategic interests.
We was born as american backed state in 1947 and we are very much american satellite and this will continue to be in foreseeable future !
As far the author concerned, he is very much reputable and former colonel or major if i remember correctly !
Oka, let me try to write something though i didnt get what are you tryng to sa.
You dont have to be a super power to look after your interests, its our fricking job to do that. If there is a poweful group operating at your birders, you would like it not to harm your interests. If haqqani is not making any trouble for Pakistan, and ourarmy is already busy with Baitullah group, then we'll ignore him. ANd if by taking to haqqani we can get our ambassador released then we'll do it. If haqqani is such a pain in Nato's back, they shud figure out a way to deal with him. We have allowed them to drone him.