Pak to prove greatest challenge for Obama: Experts

Islamabad, Dec 19: Washington's approach towards Islamabad needs a rethinking, according to a bipartisan group of American experts on Pak-US relations. Experts expect that Pakistan would prove to be the single greatest foreign policy and national security challenge for President-elect Barack Obama.

Richard Armitage, former US Representative and Co-Chair of the 9/11 Commission, has warned that due to intensifying political, economic and security crisis in Pakistan, American interests were more threatened.

New ideas to the next US administration on managing The United States and Pakistan will be offered by the report called 'The Next Chapter'. The 54-page report was launched at a ceremony in the US Embassy on Thursday, Dec 18 with a strong message that there was little time for the Americans to waste and their options in Pakistan were diminishing rapidly.

"Making progress in the US-Pakistan relationship will take a Herculean effort," the report says.
Pakistan would remain central in US security strategy because of the country's nuclear arsenal; insurgency in tribal areas and parts of settled areas of NWFP; and the ongoing war in Afghanistan.

The report points out that because of these reasons the US cannot afford to see Pakistan fail.
US needs to exercise patience with Pakistan and be modest in its expectations, while being prepared for a long term effort, the report said.

ANI