Persuading Obama

AT the conclusion of his extended stay in the US, President Asif Zardari expressed hopes that the new US administration would put an end to the drone attacks. Interestingly, the Washington Post, which published his interview, had earlier carried a report maintaining that the strikes were being conducted under a tacit understanding with Islamabad, which was allowed to lodge protests to deflect public criticism. A Foreign Office spokesman has meanwhile rubbished the report. However, the sharp increase in these attacks, from six in December to August when General Musharraf stepped down to at least 19 since then, would require some explanation.