^^^ Please to note that the Christine Fair article is part of a regular NYTimes feature "Room for Debate", in which 4-6 writers present different points of view and usually the views are diverse.
E.g., another recent one is "What is the impact of cheaper oil?"
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/20 ... -the-world
In this Room for Debate, the question is "Is there any hope against the Taliban Horror in Pakistan?" and there are four almost unanimous answers - namely, NO.
C Christine Fair's essay you've read, which says that nothing can wean the Pakistan Army from its jihadi habit, certainly not any American inducement; and thousands more Pakistanis will die.
Ahsan Butt's "Don't expect to see much change in Pakistan" says the only hope is the unlikely event that the role of Islam in Pakistan is questioned by Pakistanis.
Mosharraf Zaidi's "The People Themselves Must Act" says nothing is new about Peshawar except the intensity of public emotion, similar events have happened before and the moment has passed with no changes; the only hope is the unlikely event that people themselves challenge the mosque and madrassah.
Pir Zubair Shah's "The violence is likely to get worse" writes history and Pakistan's reaction shows that nothing fundamental is going to change.
i.e., there is no debate. The unanimity of the commentators should strike despair in the heart of the few sane Pakistanis that are left.
And India must steel itself for some difficult times ahead. India must be prepared to act resolutely without hesitation. Compassion will lie in being swift and surgical with no dithering.
Look at the nooje. Chankian or what? 
