There is dire need for confidence building and mutual trust to successfully meet the challenge of militancy and insurgency. West's mistrust and lack of required support contribute to Pakistan's growing troubles. Trust deficit has become a major source of fear and uncertainty. Excessive US interference in Pakistan's internal affairs and irresponsible statements of think tanks are a source of instability and a challenge to the writ of the state. This is worrisome for Pakistanis as the economy of the country is in shambles and human sufferings are on the increase mainly because of the War on Terror and its dangerous consequences for the security of the nation and its strategic assets. Currently the US and Pakistan seem to be tuned to different frequencies. Trust deficit is an important factor contributing to "do more" and "it's time to achieve more" debate particularly, in the context of War on Terror and issues related to the national security of Pakistan and the US. Observance of moral norms plus a rational American approach towards Pakistan would be a long-term relationship based on empathy, mutual trust and cooperation so that the people of Pakistan perceive the US as an ally with common goals and shared interests. It should be clearly understood that Pakistan has suffered tremendously in many ways and on many fronts ever since it became the frontline state in the War. The US' economic aid to Pakistan was not even a significant fraction of Pakistan's economic losses. However the proposed conditional $1.5 billion a year Pak-aid legislation introduced in the US Congress is a good gesture (in line with Obama's new strategy) but it is nowhere near to compensation Pakistan should get. Pakistan needs economic and military aid to fight the militants and to meet the dangerous internal and external threats in the form of insurgency supported by foreign powers. Unfortunately, US hardliners have always vetoed action whenever initiated for just causes, supported dictatorship on purpose and made deliberate efforts to substitute policy analysis and problem-solving with what and how they wanted that things should happen. This is the dilemma of the US think tanks. Over there, policy analysis and problem-solving is neither based on ground reality nor on principles of scientific inquiry. Therefore Pakistan needs an enabling culture to meet internal and external challenges. Pro-Pakistan elements can help create the needed environment. The US can help, as suggested, by using its influence on foreign powers to stop supporting insurgency in Pakistan. It will be possible if moral norms are observed and action is based on empathy and humanitarian consideration. In addition to foreign support from pro-Pakistan elements the country needs internal unity and uniform national outlook on issues that need to be addressed without delay and in the framework of the constitution as a guideline. There is no option for the mainstream political parties but to cooperate in larger national interest. Visionary leadership and mature politics is the need of the hour to establish a strong culture to promote democracy and national reconciliation as a step towards integration as well as autonomy and therefore all moral, political and financial corruption and exploitation of the hapless must come to an end. The writer is former director, NIPA E-mail: iftahmad786@hotmail.com