New policy shift

US puts Pakistan on notice

This refers to US president Barack Obama's stern warning to Pakistan to rein in the terrorists who have found safe haven there ('Stop using insurgents as strategic tool: Obama to Pak', DNA, December 1). His ultimatum to the Pakistan leadershas great significance in the context of his recent visit to China. It is almost certain that the Asian giant is getting fed up with its long-standing ally for exporting Islamic terrorism to teh world, including to China. China wants peace in this region to consolidate its economic supremacy and Pakistan's brinkmanship does not go well with this policy. India should take advantage of this.

US President Barack Obama has sharpened his message to Pakistan over harbouring terror groups such as al-Qa'ida and Lashkar-e-Toiba, warning that it can no longer use them as a "policy tool" and remain a US ally.

Details of the two-page letter -- which was delivered to Pakistan's embattled President Asif Ali Zardari late last month -- were leaked to the US media yesterday, hours ahead of Mr Obama's expected announcement of a 34,000-strong troop surge for next-door Afghanistan.

Mr Obama is believed to have offered Pakistan an expanded strategic partnership, including enhanced trade and development aid and help to improve its relations with India.

A recent review of US policy in the region also acknowledged Pakistan's crucial role, with one senior administration official telling The Washington Post yesterday: "We can't succeed without Pakistan." Another official told the paper: "No matter how many troops you send, if the safe haven in Pakistan isn't cracked, the whole mission is compromised."

Britain is also taking a harder line against the Pakistan establishment's tacit support of groups such as the Afghan Taliban, whose command structure is believed to be openly operate from the Pakistani city of Quetta.

At the weekend, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "People are going to ask why, eight years after 2001, Osama bin Laden has never been near to being caught."