President Zardaris one day visit to the US to attend the funeral of Richard Holbrooke is over. The 30-minute meeting with President Obama had not been scheduled earlier and the talks, as pointed out by the other side, were not a full bilateral meeting between the United States and Pakistan. The composition of the US team accompanying President Obama, however, was significant as besides Secretary Clinton it included National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, Counter-terrorism Coordinator John Brenner and Deputy National Security Advisor General Douglas Lute. This indicated that the security situation in the region remains the most vital issue for the US. Washington would be taking up its concerns during the trilateral meeting between the officials of the US, Pakistan and Afghanistan next month and during preparations for President Obamas visit to Pakistan this year. President Zardari emphasised the needs and requirements for Pakistans fragile economy and President Obama offered to look at new ways to help Pakistans troubled economy but what has continued to weigh on Obama administrations mind is that Pakistans tribal areas have turned into the epicentre of terrorism.
The year 2011 has crucial importance for the US. What is at stake is the future of the ongoing experiment to gradually hand over the local administration to Afghan government. As Admiral Mullen has put it, it is not just Haqqani or Al-Qaeda, or the Afghan Taliban or LeT, It is all of them working together, in ways that two years ago they absolutely did not. The US dilemma is that while it finds it cannot succeed in Afghanistan without shutting down these safe havens, Pakistan is unwilling to undertake a military campaign in North Waziristan. There is a perception in the army high command that once Washington has achieved its objectives, it would get out of the region leaving them holding the baby or even worse bring in India to play a new version of the Great Game.
Islamabad needs to realise that it cannot hope to restore law and order or build its economy without smashing the terrorist networks operating from its tribal areas. It is in the interests of both countries to resolve misunderstandings so that Washington and Islamabad can jointly tackle the challenge. Obamas visit can be fruitful only if the matter is resolved at the earliest.
