last time i discussed this issue of the future pakistan in a group like this was in palacios -- bellagio. the setting is somewhat different. every time you looked up, you got a postcard view outside your window. here, not much. my job is to talk about -- i understand -- external variables. they call them factors, i like to call them variables. and their likely impact. i ask myself, likely impact on wife? on pakistan, yes, in a general sense, but i think we have to think about their impact on certain of the other factors that have to do with the future pakistan. so i picked out of the list i have in my paper -- let's say -- four. one, my favorite bugaboo, which is what i call india-century city. -- century city. -- centricity, then the focus on the pakistan the army, and something that has become -- the islamists narrative and in particular seeping into the course of pakistan is decided. and last, not necessarily least, the economy, which is going to be very important in the short run. i have to move fast. i will start with the comity.ionall that will put pressure on pakistan over the nex