WASHINGTON, Feb 23: A stable, democratic, economically thriving Pakistan is considered vital to US interests in Asia, says a congressional report released days before President George W. Bush’s visit to South Asia.

The report, however, identifies some areas of ‘key concern’ to the US, including regional terrorism, Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, weapons proliferation, the Kashmir problem and Pakistan-India tensions, human rights protection and economic development.

The report, by the Congressional Research Service, refers to a press conference of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on Jan 26 where she claimed that Pakistan’s military dominated government was sidelining the country’s secular democratic forces and creating a vacuum that was being filled by extremists. She called for countering terrorism with “stable, pluralistic structures through democratic reform.”

The report notes that after 9/11, Pakistan has become a pivotal ally in US-led counterterrorism efforts and top US officials regularly praise the country for its cooperation “although doubts exist about Islamabad’s commitment to some core US interests.”

Pakistan is identified as a base for terrorist groups and their supporters operating in Kashmir, India and Afghanistan. Since late 2003, Pakistan’s army has been conducting unprecedented counterterrorism operations in traditionally autonomous tribal areas, the report says.

It notes that the country’s macroeconomic indicators have turned positive since 2001 but widespread poverty persists.

Pointing out that the US Congress has granted President Bush authority to waive coup-related aid sanctions through 2006 only, the report says that the US strongly urges the restoration of fully functioning democracy in Islamabad and expects Pakistan’s planned 2007 general elections to be “free and fair throughout the entire process.”

Referring to the January 13 missile attack on a residential compound in Bajaur, it notes that the incident led to major public demonstrations by Pakistanis opposed to President Pervez Musharraf’s alliance with the United States and Pakistan’s ruling and opposition parties demanded a US apology for ‘violating the sovereignty’ of their country.

“(Although) President Bush is slated to travel to Pakistan in early March … there is considerable Anti-American sentiment, and not just limited to Islamic groups.”

The report refers to a January 2004 testimony before a US Senate panel where a senior American official described Pakistan as “probably the most anti-American country in the world right now, ranging from the radical Islamists on one side to the liberals and Westernized elites on the other side.”

The report claims that Pakistan’s domestic security has deteriorated in recent months. Tribal areas have seen a spate of lethal incidents involving battles between militants, bandits and security forces.

In Balochistan, clashes between security forces and tribal militants began in December and continue, costing scores or perhaps hundreds of lives.