‘Pak needs to take stronger action against terror safe havens’

“Specific components of the strategy,taken individually,indicate we are headed in the right direction,both in terms of US focus and Pakistani cooperation. However,better balance and integration of the various components of our strategy will be required to reach our objectives,” it said.

For instance,the denial of extremist safe havens will require “greater cooperation” with Pakistan along the border with Afghanistan,the overview said. “Furthermore,the denial of extremist safe havens cannot be achieved through military means alone,but must continue to be advanced by effective development strategies.”

“In Pakistan,we are laying the foundation for a strategic partnership based on mutual respect and trust,through increased dialogue,improved cooperation and enhanced exchange and assistance programmes,” it said.

While the strategy is showing progress across all three assessed areas of al-Qaeda,Pakistan and Afghanistan,the challenge remains to make these gains durable and sustainable,it said.

“With regard to al-Qaeda’s Pakistan-based leadership and cadre,we must remain focused on making further progress toward our ultimate end state,the eventual strategic defeat of al-Qaeda in the region,which will require the sustained denial of the group’s safe haven in the tribal areas of western Pakistan,among other factors,” it said.

The review report also highlights the progress made in the US-Pak relationship in the past year,including a series of rounds of strategic dialogue between the two countries.

The dialogue,it noted,improved mutual trust,prompted attention to reforms critical to long-term stability and addressed development objectives important to the people of Pakistan.

“Civilian assistance increased with more aid flowing through Pakistani institutions,improved civilian stabilisation activities,the development of critical energy and other infrastructure and a robust flood response and recovery efforts which NATO directly assisted,” the report said.

“We believe our renewed bilateral partnership is helping promote stability in Pakistan. It clearly communicates US commitment to a long-term relationship that is supportive of Pakistan’s interests and underscores that we will not disengage from the region as we have in the past,” the report said.

As for the 2011,it said the US must strengthen its dialogue with both Pakistan and Afghanistan on regional stability.

Towards that end,Secretary of State Hillary Clinton plans to host Foreign Ministers from both countries in Washington for another session of the US-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral dialogue in early 2011.

“On bilateral issues,we must support the Government of Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen its economy,improve governance and security and respond to the development needs of the Pakistani people. We will continue the US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue and sustain senior level engagement – including an exchange of visits by Presidents (Barack) Obama and (Asif Ali) Zardari,” the report said.