Presidential candidates debate Pakistan

WASHINGTON - While recent campaign talking points seem focused on the nation’s flailing economy and its foreign wars, concerns over Pakistan remain an important, though somewhat less heralded, part of that dialogue.

“The reality is al-Qaida has created a safe haven in Pakistan that in some respects is more effective than what they had in Afghanistan before 9/11,” said NBC News Terror Analyst Roger Cressey.

“It is critical for our long-term strategy against al-Qaida, the Taliban, and Afghanistan.”

Pakistan was brought up early and often on the presidential campaign trail by Democratic contender and Senate Foreign Relations Chair Joe Biden.

At an MSNBC debate in October, the legislator even went so far as to say he feared Pakistan more than Iran.

“What is the greatest threat to the United States of America? 2.6 kilograms of highly enriched uranium in Tehran or an out of control Pakistan? It's not close.”

Biden’s campaign soon ended, and slowly, the topic receded into the background.

But that may have changed over the past week, as political opponents, both Republican and Democrat, have taken Sen. Barack Obama to task over his policy views toward Islamabad.

At Tuesday night’s MSNBC debate in Cleveland, Sen. Hillary Clinton criticized her opponent’s foreign policy experience, saying, “Last summer, he basically threatened to bomb Pakistan, which I don’t think was a particularly wise position to take.”

Video: Watch Clinton critcize Obama on Pakistan

And speaking at his Wisconsin primary victory party last week, Sen. John McCain also brought up Obama's earlier statements on Pakistan.

"Will we risk the confused leadership of an inexperienced candidate who once suggested bombing our ally, Pakistan?" asked the Arizona senator.

Even after the Wisconsin speech, McCain reiterated his criticism.

The next day, he said, “You make plans and you work with the other country that is your ally and friend, which Pakistan is.”

“You don’t broadcast and say that you’re going to bomb a country without their permission.”

Video: Watch McCain criticize Obama on Pakistan

Both Clinton and McCain were making hay of a speech given by Obama in August, when he said he would consider unilateral bombings of al-Qaida camps in Pakistan, with or without consent from Islamabad.

"Let me make this clear: There are terrorists holed up in those mountains, that murdered 3,000 Americans," said Obama during the counterterrorism address.

"If we have actionable intelligence about high-valued terrorist targets and if President Musharraf will not act, we will."

Video: Watch Obama make these statements

But, despite the criticism, there’s some recent evidence that suggests Obama’s idea of unilateral strikes within Pakistan’s borders may not be that different from current U.S. actions.

Last week, The Washington Post reported that in late January, a CIA aircraft fired on several buildings in the Pakistani town of Mir Ali, killing a senior al-Qaida commander and several others.

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