States Jockey for Position in Afghanistan

In his distinguished diplomatic career spanning four decades, there is not a trace of record to show that Richard Holbrooke, United States special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, dabbled in energy security issues. His current visit to Pakistan - en route to Afghanistan - has been officially projected as aimed at helping his host country find a way to overcome its electricity shortage.

Holbrooke admitted to Pakistani journalists on Monday in Islamabad that the energy crisis in their country had been building up over a quarter century and he could not be expected to solve it in a few weeks. But nonetheless he came as the US wanted to send a message that it was concerned about the Pakistani people's genuine problems and would do all it could to be of help.