WASHINGTON - A leading American newspaper Sunday called for continuing U.S. missile and commando attacks inside Pakistan, but emphasized backing the military operations with best intelligence and minimizing civilian casualties. Citing U.S. commanders, The Washington Post said that victory in Afghanistan is impossible unless Taliban bases in Pakistan are reduced. "And no risk to Pakistan's political system or its U.S. relations is greater than that of a second 9/11 staged from the tribal territories," the newspaper said in an editorial. Meanwhile, The Boston Globe praised President Asif Ali Zardai's gestures toward addressing disputes with Afghanistan and India as part of a regional approach to security and success in the fight against terrorism. But the paper made no specific comments on the violation of Pakistan's territory by U.S. military raids from Afghanistan. In fact, it said if Zardari becomes an effective partner with the U.S. in combating terrorism, he will "suddenly bloom into a statesman," while referring to his "shady past." The Globe said, "It was a promising sign that the one foreign head of state invited to Zardari's inauguration was President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan... It was a good sign that Zardari said shortly after his swearing-in that he intends to undertake 'fast-track' efforts to resolve the crucial conflict with India over Kashmir." It said, while noting the emphasis that the fight against terrorism cannot be won without "joint struggle for peace and prosperity in the region." At the same time, the newspaper called for socio-economic development of the people living in remote areas, saying the Pakistani leadership "will also need funds to spend on schools, social services, infrastructure, and economic development in impoverished rural areas where extremist recruiters have flourished. For this purpose, he will need a continued flow of aid from the United States." About Zardari, The Globe said, "The widower of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, he spent 11 years in jail on corruption charges involving enormous sums of money. He was even convicted once - a mistrial was later declared - on charges of murdering his wife's brother. But the wheeler-dealer previously known as Mr. 10 Percent has displayed great deftness in outmaneuvering opponents. He will need all his Machiavellian wiles to keep Pakistan from coming apart at the seams." The editorial in The Washington Post said Pakistani leadership needs US support to "extract the country from a worsening economic crisis and move forward with an ambitious programme to counter extremism in the tribal territories with economic development." The newspaper noted that the unilateral strike against extremist targets on the Pakistani soil are risky and could affect relations between the two countries and destabilize the democratically elected government. "Some experts argue that U.S. attacks only increase support for the Taliban. Some experts argue that U.S. attacks only increase support for the Taliban. But the group already appears to have a stranglehold on large parts of the tribal territories," The Post noted in an editorial but advocated the need for eliminating extremist sanctuaries.