Pakistan Changes May Give U.S. New Options (NPR)

Chamberlain says one thing the United States can do is try to reduce the Pakistani government's own involvement with extremist groups by helping to mediate in Pakistan's conflict with India over Kashmir. She says Pakistani leaders, both civilian and military, have tolerated extremist groups in Kashmir, "because they were useful in harassing the Indians." She says a diplomatic resolution of the Kashmir dispute could help the new Pakistani government make a clean break with extremist groups there, "which are becoming an increasing danger to Pakistan itself."

Steve Coll, president of the New America Foundation, agrees that Pakistan's involvement with extremist groups in Kashmir taints its efforts to deal with extremists along the border with Afghanistan, as well. Coll, who writes about Pakistan for The New Yorker, says the country needs to give up its strategy of trying to manage jihadi groups for its own ends.

"The U.S.," he says, "also needs to speak clearly and consistently about its goals: to promote a stable constitutional democracy in Pakistan, rather than narrowly focusing on one individual, or on the army."