While one would not doubt that Foreign Minister Qureshi discussed with US Special Envoy Holbrooke some clear 'red lines in the American-Pakistan relations, it is evident that his interlocutor treated them with little respect. In fact, he simply rubbed them off, when he insisted that the screening of Pakistanis on entry into his country was in the interest of the security of all concerned. Mr Qureshis plea that innocent Pakistanis felt they were being treated as terrorists did not hold with Mr Holbrooke. Nor should one expect that the 'red line he drew across the intensification of drone attacks would figure anywhere in the reckoning of US policymakers. The US Envoy just did not consider the subject important enough to be mentioned in the joint press conference. Only the other day, visiting Senator McCain, the Republican presidential candidate who lost to President Obama, was outspoken about it. Mr Qureshis choice of the word, expansion in voicing Pakistans opposition to drone attacks is revealingly suggestive that Islamabad had either given its nod to these attacks, as the Americans have been maintaining, or has now come to terms with them. It should be obvious to the government that things would not change unless it puts its foot down to make the US realise how the key ally in the war on terror ought to be treated. And we would continue to receive pledges of immediate dole-out of $200 million or so as against $2 billion, the amount due from the US under the Coalition Support Fund. Although Prime Minister Gilani pointed out to Mr Holbrooke that Pakistan needed immediate financial help for the reconstruction of Malakand Division if it wanted to win the hearts and minds of the local people, it is hard to believe that more funds would be forthcoming any time soon. We must not be duped by the declaration of a billion dollar of help in the execution of energy projects; the quid pro quo should be simply unacceptable. It is to sacrifice the Iranian gas pipeline project, as reportedly Mr Holbrooke demanded at the time of making the offer of assistance. Cheap, readily available in ample quantities, the natural gas from Iran would make a major contribution to bridging the supply-demand gap, while the promised alternative from Tajikistan does not look promising for various reasons. Not only would it be a costlier venture, but risky also since it has to pass through a strife-torn Afghanistan that hardly looks like returning to peaceful conditions in the foreseeable future, given the presence of foreign troop there.