THE hype about the Pakistan-US strategic dialogue has already begun. Normal visits by US functionaries are being termed as pre-dialogue visits and the hype is centring on what is being put out as the first time that the COAS of Pakistan is going to be participating in such a dialogue. This is not quite the truth since General Kayani is scheduled to be in Washington at the time for the normal bilateral military-to-military meetings. However, the real issue is what will actually be discussed at this strategic dialogue beyond the usual socio-economic issues with some security issues thrown in. The government has not really informed the nation of the issues it will take up specifically and in what order of priority. For Pakistan the dialogue can be fruitful if we play our cards right and exploit some opportunities that have become evident. To begin with, both the US and Afghanistan have realized two important realities: One, that without Pakistans active support, there can be no peace in Afghanistan and certainly no respectable exit strategy for the US and NATO. Hence President Karzais tempered tone on his recent visit to Islamabad and also on the totally new and more circumspect statements coming out of Holbrooke regarding the NWA operation. Which brings up the second point and that is the realisation in Washington that the Pakistan military has just about had it with the mudslinging against it in the US media that is especially close to US officialdom. This holds true especially for the ISI which has become the favourite whipping boy of the US as its own failures in Afghanistan have become more acute. Linked to this is also the realisation that they cannot pit the political leadership against the military, nor can they use the former to pressure the latter. That is why this is the time to renegotiate the so-called war on terror cooperation with the US on a more reciprocal basis, and demand some specific strategic returns from the US. At the top of the list should be peaceful nuclear energy, given our shortages in this vital field for development. Linked to this is the water issue and Indias continuing theft of Pakistans share of the river waters. Access to markets should also be at the top of the trade agenda. Screening and visa impediments for Pakistanis, especially students, are other aggravating issues. Terrorism is bound to figure high on the agenda with ISIs General Pasha also participating, so Indian state terrorism through Afghanistan into Balochistan and FATA needs to be dealt with. If the strategic dialogue is to have meaning in a strategic way then weapons and technology transfers should also be included. It is time we moved out of the wheat and soya bean mindset and played hardball with the US which really has no option but to cultivate Pakistans cooperation. Let us not waste the opportunity, as we did immediately after post-9/11, by selling ourselves short in the strategic dialogue. Otherwise it will be yet another meaningless diplomatic-propagandist exercise that will not serve the interests of Pakistan.