What does Pakistan want from U.S. talks

Top U.S. and Pakistani diplomats meet in Washington this week to discuss a range of issues from security, Pakistan's economy, water and energy to education, foreign policy communications and agriculture. Here are some questions and answers on what Pakistan, a front-line state in the U.S. struggle against al Qaeda and religious extremism, hopes to get out of the talks:
WHAT'S AT STAKE FOR PAKISTAN?

In a word, relevance. Pakistan has a narrow window of opportunity to cement its position and capitalise on its usefulness to the United States regarding Afghanistan, India and the region as a whole.
While for years Afghanistan was dependent on Pakistan for its links to the outside world, it now is increasingly reliant on India, China and Central Asia for trade, which in turn reduces its formerly strong ties to Pakistan.
Indeed Kabul, post-Taliban rule, views Pakistan with great suspicion.
The Pakistani establishment knows the United States needs its help to create conditions favourable for the beginning of a U.S. pullout from Afghanistan next year. Pakistan still has influence with the Afghan Taliban on the one hand, and could crack down on the insurgents' use of Pakistan territory for sanctuary on the other.
But the Pakistanis fear once the United States is out of Afghanistan -- and Pakistan's utility is reduced -- the United States will cozy up to India, greenlight Afghanistan's alternate links to the outside world and leave Pakistan isolated and encircled by hostile powers.
Pakistan's challenge, then, is to leverage its current usefulness to the United States to attain long-term benefits that will last.