Democratic lawmaker Gary Ackerman commented this week that while the Obama administration may be dealing with issues in Afghanistan, the real threat lies in nuclear-armed Pakistan. In order to defeat al Qaeda, President Barack Obama must focus on Pakistan and its border with Afghanistan, which Obama referred to as the "epicenter" of violent extremism. Ackerman raised questions about the value of risking lives in Afghanistan when the true strategic prize is in Pakistan. Ex-CIA analyst Bruce Riedel added that getting Islamabad to cooperate in the fight against extremists is a challenge due to the complex political situation in Pakistan. President Asif Ali Zardari's government is in a precarious position and public opinion remains strongly against the United States, although less so than during the Bush administration. The pressure from the US is making Zardari's position even more tenuous, especially with the army and police. According to Riedel from the Brookings Institution, changing Pakistan's strategic behavior is a difficult and long-term task that won't happen quickly. The Pakistanis are feeling unsettled by the United States' actions in Afghanistan, as they have conflicting views on not wanting a surge of 30,000 more U.S. troops across the border while also being concerned that a quick withdrawal by Washington could further destabilize the region. Robert M. Hathaway, director of the Asia program at the Wilson Center, pointed out that Pakistan is hesitant to support American and NATO efforts in Afghanistan while also not wanting them to surge or leave. Congress and Democratic Senator John Kerry have been urging the Obama administration to put more pressure on Pakistan, citing the presence of al Qaeda in the country, its ties to the Taliban in Afghanistan, and the dangers of an unstable, nuclear-armed Pakistan. Senior US officials, including national security adviser James Jones, have been in discussions with Pakistan in recent weeks regarding the new Afghan strategy, with President Obama urging Islamabad to take more action. Obama has proposed a variety of incentives to Zardari, including increased intelligence sharing and military cooperation. Experts predict that there will be more CIA-operated drone strikes on suspected al Qaeda and Taliban targets as part of this new strategy. There have been nearly 50 drone strikes in northwestern border regions this year, resulting in approximately 415 deaths, many of whom were foreign militants. The United States has provided over $10 billion in military aid to Pakistan since 2001, with additional funds being rushed to the military in recent months. The Pakistani government has requested more F-16 fighter jets, as well as jets capable of operating at night. During the strategic review, Vice President Joe Biden advocated for a greater focus on Pakistan, including discussions about the possibility of conducting more "unilateral operations" within the country, a move considered risky by most experts. Hathaway stated that while there may be exceptional circumstances where limited operations could be necessary, continuous military actions in this manner would likely have negative repercussions. Nick Schmidle, a fellow at the New America Foundation, warned that any radical, unilateral actions, such as deploying special forces, would only serve to further alienate pro-Western factions in Pakistan. Schmidle also highlighted the long-standing trust issues between the United States and Pakistan, noting that even a proposed $7.5 billion non-military aid package has been met with skepticism, particularly from the Pakistani army, who believe it comes with too many stipulations. Democratic Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey stated that they do not appear to desire a strategic partnership. While they are interested in the financial and equipment benefits, they are not willing to invest in a relationship that requires significant effort.