Treat Biden's advice with care

US Vice president-elect Joe Biden is making his umpteenth trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan with little or no agenda on the cards. The essence of Biden's trip is believed to be a first-hand assessment of the US-led 'war on terror' and a bid to scale down the tensions between India and Pakistan. This isn't his first trip to the region and, like any other visit, the game plan continues to be vague except that he could be doing the groundwork for his boss's (Obama) strategy to shift the focus to South Asia.

The Pakistani authorities in this case would be well advised to treat Biden's suggestions with caution even as reports suggest escalating tension due to supposed lack of communication between President Asif Ali Zardari and the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani over the sacking of national security adviser Mahmoud Durrani. Though both offices have denied a rift, it is important for them not to let this visiting delegation gain any influence. Coherence in governance should be emphasised and there should be no doubt as to which office is in charge of running the country. This understanding is necessary as Pakistan copes with rising stress across its borders with India and Afghanistan.