Though Mumbai is still grimacing at Islamabad for failing to act against terrorists using its soil, Washington is looking to strengthening of relationship with Pakistan. In a recent article published in the famous English newspaper Daily Times, the United States has been said to raise Pakistan’s military assistance by $300 million per year.

Starting September, next year, the new military package for Pakistan will be valid for a term of 5 years and the upcoming change in the US government will not influence the package. The increase in military assistance aims at increasing the anti-terrorism efficacy of Pakistan’s military forces. It is a sign of the US confidence in Pakistan’s military performance against the terrorists since 2001 when the horrors of terrorism took the region by a storm. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in helping fight terrorism over the years. Of the previous military assistance to Pakistan, Gates said, ‘it was not a waste of money.’

On the other hand, the anger of neighboring India has not quelled yet as its Minister of External Affairs, Pranab Mukherjee, has once again pressed on Pakistan to act against the terrorists on its land since India has provided sufficient proof to Pakistan regarding the Mumbai terror attacks. India wants Pakistan to hand over the suspects, claimed to be present in Pakistan and involved in launching the Mumbai attacks.

Pakistan, on the other hand, is still not convinced of the proofs as conclusive. While the Indian army is considering action against Pakistan’s military and/or intelligence agencies, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has reiterated that Pakistan does not want war and will fight only in defense in case war was imposed on it.

On a parallel note, the Indian government is starting a global campaign of exerting international pressure on Pakistan for taking immediate and satisfactory measures against the terrorist elements involved in the Mumbai tragedy. How the US will respond to the Indian campaign is not very clear yet. But it certainly makes sense if the US and India hold a joint analysis of the Indian proofs along with Pakistani and a few other heads of states in order to make the verification objective and convincing enough to justify action against the suspects. Even then, a no-war policy will need to be followed to ensure peace and stability in the region.