US-PAK 2 LAST

"Washington sees India's active role in Afghanistan as
a force for stability, but Pakistan sees it as a threat and
has been reaching out to other regional powers, including
Iran, for counterbalancing support," The Post said.
This despite the fact that Gates offered shadow drones
to Pakistan during his recent visit to Pakistan. The gesture
intended to ease Pakistani concerns about the increasing use
of US armed drones to launch missile strikes against al-Qaeda
and Taliban targets in Pakistan's remote tribal areas.
"The other major obstacle, analysts said, is
Pakistan's concern that if its armed forces expand operations
and go after allies of the Afghan Taliban, this will invite
retribution from radical groups that have so far refrained
from attacking Pakistan, and that could end up sharing power
in Afghanistan after Western forces withdraw," The Post said.
According to The Post, analysts and diplomats said the
army's delaying tactics were in part a gambit to win more US
military aid and in part a reflection of the toll taken by the
fighting.
"Other observers pointed to a cultural cause for the
disconnect between the United States and Pakistan, despite the
recent infusion of US economic aid and the fence-mending
visits from Washington. Pakistanis understand the need to curb
violent militant groups, they said, but do not want to be seen
as doing Washington's bidding," the daily said. PTI