Path to Salvation?

Those who know must sneak a glance at it anytime they drive down Khyber Road, connecting the old city of Peshawar with the town's posh cantonment areas. From the outside, it looks no different from other brick buildings. Inside, however, it houses the northwestern command of the Pakistan's powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Yet this building, for decades an icon of the ISI's power, today is no longer standing, after a series of massive, vehicle-borne explosives were detonated at 6:45 on the morning of 13 November, killing 14 officials and guards along with three civilians. The blast was heard some 25 kilometres away.

The attack took place the day that US National Security Adviser James Jones arrived in Islamabad bearing what was described as "a letter from President Barack Obama". Addressed to Pakistan's political and military leadership, the communication included a demand to "do more" to counter al-Qaeda in the tribal belt along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier. There was also a timeframe included for this action: prior to the critical midterm elections in the US, in November 2010. Indeed, Washington clearly still needs the help of the ISI, despite having "deep suspicion" about the agency's alleged links with groups such as the Taliban.