WHILE on the face of it, the prime minister’s visit to Washington went off relatively smoothly, American media reports indicate there were some rough patches that Mr Nawaz Sharif was not quite prepared for. Reportedly, at a private meeting, American lawmakers minced no words in demanding the release of Dr Shakil Afridi, whose fake vaccination drive helped lead the Americans to Osama bin Laden’s hideout in 2011. In a questionable trial, the doctor was sentenced to a lengthy prison term on charges unrelated to the dubious campaign or his links with the American secret agencies — actions which officialdom in Pakistan had said amounted to treason. However, this kind of pressure for Afridi’s release could well cause the right-wing lobby in Pakistan to step up its demand for the repatriation of Aafia Siddiqui who was sentenced after being convicted in 2010 for assaulting and attempting to murder US nationals. Her trial was largely seen in Pakistan as lacking transparency.

The two cases are part of a larger debate on human rights and access to a fair and free trial. But the latest barrage of criticism from Washington simply shows that the bigger picture — and it is a terrifying one for both the US and Pakistan — is being missed. Instead of firmly concentrating on joint cooperation and taking action against militants who are terrorising this region and beyond, the two countries continue to focus on misplaced priorities. Turning up the heat on Pakistan on the Afridi issue will not help if the US and Pakistan are to remain focused on the common goal of eliminating militancy. Pointing fingers is counterproductive to this goal which is becoming increasingly elusive as militants eye the post Nato withdrawal period as an opportunity to entrench themselves.