Pakistan is the fourth Muslim country and the twelfth in the world that have been offered the US manna, generally offered to those countries that acquiesce with the US in implementing its strategic designs. In this instance Pakistan's participation in the US war against terrorism, in particular its role in support of the US operations in Afghanistan as a part of US "War on Terror" has merited such a status.

It has to be said though that in the space of two decades the Afghan situation has come twice as a bailout for Pakistan. In both instances, once in the 80s and now very recently, the situations in Afghanistan have brought Pakistan, from the sideline, to the position of a frontline state. From what was "peanuts" President Zia came by multibillion dollars of US aid. But for the US operations in Afghanistan, Pakistan would have remained on the margins of relevance to the US policy planners.

Given the fact that post Cold War Pakistan was relegated to the backwaters of US strategic considerations, that it had to cry itself hoarse to have the money it had paid as advance for the purchase of F-16s, that it was slapped with some stringent sanctions as a result of its efforts to join the "nuclear Brahmins," for Pakistan to be vested with such a status by the US is indeed remarkable.

Although the MNNAs do not enjoy the guarantees of mutual defense and security, the status nonetheless carries some important perks and benefits. As an MNNA Pakistan would be eligible for priority delivery of defense articles, stockpiling of military hardware, purchase of depleted uranium for anti-tank rounds, cooperation in defense and research programmes and loan facilities. The designated non-NATO allies also enjoy some advantages in the foreign-assistance process as well as a close working relationship with a country's defense forces.

While General Musharraf flaunts this as a victory of his foreign policy that ensures Pakistan's national interest, his critics argue that the means he has adopted are predicated too much on Pakistan's modulating its activities in response to the tune that Washington plays.

The stick will come by way of various US pressures on Pakistan. Although Pakistan has gained in many ways it has had to face the negative political as well as economic effects of Pak-US cooperation against the US "War on terror." The raison d'ê

tre of US presence in Afghanistan remains unfulfilled in that the Al Quaida leadership is yet to be apprehended. The writ of the US forces does not run more than only a few kilometers around Kabul. Elections are still a far cry and the local warlords continue to call the shots. Therefore, it would not be wrong to presume that Pakistan will come under increasing pressure in the US election year to hound out Osama bin Laden and his followers.

Furthermore, countries holding MNNA status have their troops in either Afghanistan or Iraq. Commentators are of the opinion that Pakistan may come under increased pressure to send troops to either of these countries or be asked to sign a "Status of Forces Agreement" (SOFA). And of course, the MNNA designation under section 517 of the FAA can be rescinded any time by the US president with a notification to the Congress.

In elevating the status of Pakistan the US has validated the arguments that the attainment of national interest can never be circumscribed by the archaic notions of morality and ethics and that principles must give way to expediency in the formulation of country's foreign and defense policies. This had been amply illustrated by US treatment of Pakistan following the erstwhile Soviet Union's Afghan debacle. There is much truth in the comments that, "their (Pak-US) close friendship has always ended once the US achieved its objectives." Perhaps the present US move is to remove the common perception about the US being a fair weather friend only.

Nonetheless, the increasing pressure on Pakistan is bound to have its internal ramifications. Thus, while the carrot appears tantalizing the stick may be difficult to tolerate.

Brig. Gen. Shahedul Anam Khan is Editor, Defense & Strategic Affairs, The Daily Star.