The positive tone of Obamas remarks on Pakistans stakes in the peace and stability of Afghanistan and the absence

of any public name-calling by US officials during Na a!s visit on safe havens in Pakistan for the Afghan Taliban is in elcome contrast to their past behaviour" #t ould not have been possible ithout our support to the Afghan reconciliation and peace process that $ashington has been trying to put in place for more than a year" On Pakistan-#ndia relations% Obama fulfilled the promise he made to &anmohan last month by taking up the 'uestions of the trial of those implicated in the &umbai terrorist attack% the activities of (amaat-ud-)a ah and the case of *afi! Saeed" #n his statement after the meeting% the US president also spoke about the +e,port- of terrorism from Pakistan to other countries" #n response% Na a! told Obama that the issue of terrorism is of as much concern to Pakistan as to #ndia if not more" *e could also have reminded the US president that the trial in #ndia of the perpetrators of the Sam.hauta /,press bombing% hich took place 01 months before &umbai% has been proceeding at a suspiciously leisurely pace and has also not been concluded as yet% even though the crime as committed in #ndia and all the itnesses are ithin the country" Obama as full of praise for Na a!s commitment to reduce tensions ith #ndia% describing it as +a very ise path- and in this conte,t mentioned the Pakistan prime ministers meeting ith his #ndian counterpart last month" The main tangible achievement of that meeting as an agreement to restore peace and tran'uillity on the 2o3" 4ut since then% there have been fresh incidents of 2o3 violation" Na a! asked the US to use its influence to encourage Pakistan-#ndia dialogue to resolve outstanding issues and on 2o3 violations" $ashington predictably reaffirmed its position that hile it is prepared to use its influence to encourage improvement in Pakistan-#ndia relations% it ill not play a direct role" A day before Na a!s visit% the Obama government also reaffirmed its stance on 5ashmir% saying that it is for Pakistan and #ndia to determine the +pace% scope and character of their dialogue- on the issue" Nevertheless% Na a! did ell to bring up 5ashmir in his meeting ith Obama" *is call for a US role in resolving the dispute is% ho ever% another matter" 2ike his obsession ith +picking up the threads of dialogue ith #ndia from here he left off in 0111-% Na a!s repeated appeals for a US role in settling the 5ashmir issue is a hangover from his last term of office" Not only is $ashington no completely dismissive of the idea% any US involvement% in the highly unlikely event that it takes place% is likely to go in #ndias favour" Na a! should% therefore% stop harping on this proposal and instead spend his efforts and those of his government on raising the issue of the right of self-determination and other human rights of the 5ashmiris in international fora% as Pakistan used to do till 6778"

#n his remarks after the meeting ith Obama% Na a! said that the t o leaders had discussed a +common vision- to build robust bilateral cooperation" *e also spoke of Pakistans desire for a broad-based% stable and enduring partnership" Na a!s visit sho s ho far e still are from that goal" 4ut it served to remove some of the mistrust bet een the t o sides on ays of bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan" This should help smooth the ongoing transition in Afghanistan% a matter of vital interest to Pakistan" 9orging a common vision for the post-6708 period ill be an even more difficult task and may be left for the future" The riter is a former member of the Pakistan 9oreign Service" /mail: asife!di;yahoo"com