Ultimately, said Joshua Foust, a fellow at the American Security Project familiar with the region, Pakistan must address the broader sense of political disenfranchisement that originally fed the insurgency.

WSJ: In Former Taliban Sanctuary, an Eerie Silence Takes Over

Bush plans to return to the region in October, according to U.S. administration officials familiar with the matter.

CNN: Bush: Women, freedom key to Mideast prosperity

One proposal discussed, according to politicians familiar with the talks, was to transfer control of the investigation of Mr. Hashemi to the Kurdish region, which has its own government, judiciary and armed forces.

WSJ: Iraq Crisis Grows With New Threat