Pakistan and the U.K.
David Cameron and President Zardari have, by their own accounts, had a good meeting a reached an accord upon their long term strategic aims and immediate ways to strengthen ties and address difficulties. Cameron is showing himself to be a tough but effective operator on the international stage and the shift of British foreign policy from a form of shuffling and emollient diplomacy in the shadow of the U.S. to an edgy prosecution of British interests is already becoming clear. This is very good.
So is the decision to increase co-operation with the Pakistan military and intelligence services. We cannot be sure how much power the President will actually have when he gets home from his tour. In his absence and the seeming incapacity of his government to mobilise, separate from the army, larges scale and effective response to the calamitous floods, gravity in that unstable country is already shifting towards the Generals. Links with them as a separate power in the state similar to pre WWI Germany, may be useful all round.
This is in sharp contrast to the power balance in India, which is much nearer our own model. It is interesting that our relationship with India is largely founded on economic and commercial opportunities for each side, whereas with Pakistan it is more strategic. We share culture and citizens with both, but it is with Pakistan that the key to the end game in Afghanistan will be found.