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Introduction The never-ending problem of terrorism in Pakistan continues to disrupt the political situation in South Asia and complicates attempts at peace and reconciliation within the region. As a volatile nuclear state, Pakistan is of concern for policy makers in the United States and globally. From the inception of Pakistan, troubling trends emerged pertaining to national identity and the role of religion in the newly formed country. Pakistani paranoia centered on the obsession with the perceived threat from India and the realization that Pakistan could not match their power. Further complicating the Pakistan situation was the artificial nature of the country. Especially troubling was the inhospitable and ungovernable tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. This region became a center stage regarding ter- rorism, and all parties involved in anti-terrorism efforts entered the area with caution and forewarning of the difficulty in attempting to pacify the area. The regional upheaval that eventually led to Pakistan becoming the epi- center of global terrorism would not have taken place without the dam- aging role of General Zia-ul-Haq. In his decade-long tenure, General Zia promoted a radical Islamization program and planted the seeds of extrem- ism that grew into a full-fledged terrorism problem. Zia’s zealotry coupled with the proxy war against the Soviet Union in neighboring Afghani- stan created the perfect storm for regional chaos and the strengthening of extremism. The subsequent period of state failure led to the birth of the Taliban movement in Afghanistan. This radical Wahhabis-influenced movement was in essence a creation of the Pakistan security apparatus, most notably the ISI. As the Taliban went from an insurgency movement