Pakistan has sealed its fate, to the tune of millions of dollars. It finally got what it wanted, or what it said it needed. Zardari just has to deliver now. Pakistan’s proxy mission for the West: to take on the Taliban and al-Qaeda inside Pakistan in a struggle in which there are no guarantees of success.

The US Senate has unanimously passed the Kerry-Lugar bill, giving US$1.5 billion in economic assistance for Pakistan annually over a period of five years. This is three times what the country has been receiving. Apart from this, Pakistan has also been receiving several billions of dollars annually in other military and non-military aid.

The catch, or Pakistan’s part of the deal that it has to deliver in exchange for the cash: the country shall undertake military operations against militants and al-Qaeda in the North Waziristan and South Waziristan tribal areas on the border with Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s full interest and cooperation have been bought. It can no longer be lackadaisical in its anti-insurgency campaigns. It can no longer afford to be reluctant in committing fully to engagement in the Waziristans, where the Pakistan Taliban and their al-Qaeda allies have a strong foothold and from where militants fuel the insurgency in Afghanistan.

The US has just shown what an important and indispensable anti-terror partner Pakistan really is. Critical friendships can be bought. Now, Pakistan just has to prove that it’s worth every cent of the pay out.

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Via Asia Times Online