From Our Special Correspondent

LONDON, Sept 30: The Financial Times in its editorial on Tuesday has asked the US to treat Pakistan with the respect due an ally, help it rebuild its institutions, restore economic growth and extend the rule of law.

On the other hand the newspaper advised Asif Zardari to try to regain control of all Pakistan’s territory ‘in alliance with the army’.

The FT appreciated the fact that to his credit Mr Zardari had already reached a large measure of agreement with Hamid Karzai, the Afghan President.

“He needs a similar level of understanding with and from Washington,” it added.

It said that Washington and Islamabad needed to agree on ways to crush the jihadis before they penetrated the Pakistani mainstream. “The current strategy is not working. Over reliant on US air power, costly in civilian lives, and outside Pakistan’s control, it is alienating Pakistanis.