A wolf in sheep's clothing: Afghans Lash Out at Neighbor, Woo the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal:

Officials in President Hamid Karzai's administration, in the wake of the killing of Osama bin Laden, are urging the U.S. to strengthen its commitment to Afghanistan and get tougher with Pakistan.

"We need a different course of action now," said Mr. Karzai's deputy national security adviser, Shaida Mohammad Abdali.

The U.S. and Afghanistan have begun negotiations into a longterm strategic partnership that will shape their relations beyond 2014, when President Barack Obama has said he planned to end major combat operations. Some Afghans see the Pakistan controversy as a chance to improve their bargaining position.

That is a turnaround from last month, when Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani urged Mr. Karzai to forget about a long-term deal with the Americans and instead consider a regional alliance with Pakistan and China, Afghan officials said.