NEW YORK, Aug 18: President Gen Pervez Musharraf finds “himself squeezed from many directions, leading to one of the most serious political binds of his nearly seven-year tenure” says the New York Times in an extensive analysis of the political scenario in Pakistan and Washington’s concerns.

While noting that since Sept 11 Gen Musharraf remains a trusted American ally, the newspaper nevertheless pointed out “that in Washington there are also simmering concerns.” A series of planned terrorist attacks with links to Pakistan as well as a sharp rise in cross-border Taliban attacks in Afghanistan have prompted renewed debate within the Defence Department about Pakistan, the Times said attributing it to two people who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to comment publicly.

“They said that in particular, the sharply rising American casualty rate in Afghanistan had increased skepticism among some American military officers about the Pakistani intelligence service’s efforts to rein in the Taliban. “There is an increasing view in the United States that Pakistan isn’t very helpful,” said one researcher involved in the debate, referring to frustration among some officers. “There are people who are really thinking twice about this relationship with Pakistan.”

However, NYT observed that “in Washington the official view remains strongly supportive. Richard A. Boucher, the assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia, credited Gen Musharraf with having kept his promise to “break” with the Taliban and their Qaeda allies.

Although the Taliban have reorganised inside Pakistan, Mr Boucher said, Gen Musharraf’s government is trying to gain control of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

“They’ve closed some camps; they’ve outlawed some groups,” he said in an interview. “You have to understand how deeply rooted extremism is in Pakistan.”

Of the general’s cooperation with Washington, he added: “I think we’ve seen plenty. We certainly work with Musharraf.”

Reflecting on the political scenario in Pakistan, the newspaper notes “his two main political foes, who undermined each other for years, are linking arms in an effort to restore civilian rule. Some erstwhile allies on the religious right, emboldened by spreading rage against Gen Musharraf’s pro-American stance, have stepped up their criticism. “

“Corruption scandals have dogged some of his partners, including the prime minister, Shaukat Aziz, who faces a no-confidence motion in Parliament next week. Inflation has increased. An ethnic insurgency in Balochistan refuses to subside; Pakistan attributes it to unfriendly neighbours”, the Times said No one doubts that the president, who is also the army chief of staff, remains the most powerful man in Pakistan and enjoys the backing of the United States. “He still makes the political weather,” as one Western diplomat was quoted as saying.