NEW YORK, July 16: Underscoring that “Pakistan constitutes one of the most important and difficult challenges facing US foreign policy”, a leading US expert argues “that the United States must work with the country to confront security threats and improve governance and economic opportunity in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), something that could reduce militancy”.

In a report commissioned by the Center for Preventive Action, Daniel Markey, a fellow at New York-based Council of Foreign Relations suggests that “a cooperative, incentives-based strategy for the United States that would aim to increase the capacity of the Pakistani government and its security institutions, foster political and economic reform, and build confidence in the bilateral relationship”.

At the same time, the report outlines alternatives to be considered should this positive approach fail to advance US interests.

Markey cautions “these alternatives, be they coercive sanctions to induce Pakistan to act or unilateral US action against security threats, could bring some short-term progress in dealing with significant threats — but at the cost of bringing about a more hostile Pakistan that would cease to be a partner of any sort”.

“Few dimensions of dealing with Pakistan are the source of as much frustration as the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, the unique challenges of this region, which has long been largely outside Pakistani government control,” he points out.

“The relationship between the United States and PakistanMarkey says “has long been characterised by cooperation and recrimination alike. Pakistan is a strategic friend of the United States, but one that often appears unable or unwilling to address a number of vexing security concerns.”

“Political disarray has further hampered Islamabads capacity for strong and united action. The result in Washington is often frustration mixed with uncertainty about what to do about it.”

Markey says in the report: “What is at stake is considerable by any measure. Pakistan is the world’s second-most populous Muslim-majority country, with nearly 170 million people. It shares borders with Afghanistan, where US and allied forces are struggling to promote stability amid a continuing insurgency, and India, with which it has fought a series of conflicts. Pakistans nuclear arsenal and history of abetting proliferation put it in a position to dilute global efforts to stem the spread of nuclear materials and weapons. And it is host to local extremist groups, the Taliban, and global terrorist organisations, most notably Al Qaeda.”

Another expert on South Asian affairs says in a different report that the United States can help Pakistan re-orient its strategic perceptions by focusing on defusing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“The United States can also step up its diplomatic initiatives to prevent the derailment of the ongoing Indo-Pakistani talks following the attack on the Indian embassy in Afghanistan,” says Lisa Curtis, a senior research fellow based at a Washington think tank.

She cautions the Bush Administration to weigh its options carefully, especially when it comes to the possibility of launching unilateral military operations in insurgent dominant areas of Pakistan.

She believes that such a step carries the risk of losing Pakistan’s partnership in the global war on terror.

As far as Pakistan is concerned, Curtis says it must shift its strategy against militants in a way that demonstrates it is firmly on the side of the coalition forces in Afghanistan.