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President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan, widower of the assassinated Benazir Bhutto, visits Downing Street today at a crucial point in British relations with his country.
The leader of the Taliban in Pakistan, Baitullah Mehsud, de facto controller of the key border areas with Afghanistan, was killed by a US drone this month.
That creates an opportunity for a decisive operation by Islamabad's armed forces against the now divided Pakistan Taliban, following the successful counter-offensive against them in the Swat Valley.
Further reversals for the Pakistani Taliban would reduce the ability of their Afghan counterparts to exploit safe havens in the border regions.
That would show progress at a time when concerns over the conduct of the Afghan elections and the rising casualty rate among UK forces have raised questions over the value of the West's mission there.
However, the Pakistani armed forces are reluctant to make the most of the death of Mehsud with an invasion of the area unless they can transfer troops away from confronting India in Kashmir.
Mr Brown must make the case for action. President Obama's AfPak strategy has already promised increased aid and investment for Pakistan in return for the country's continued co-operation, and special envoy Richard Holbrooke, along with key military figures, has recently visited Islamabad.
On the other hand, President Zardari faces perennial pressures from domestic Islamic fundamentalism, anger over corruption and resentment against America.
Recent polls showing lack of support in Britain for the Afghan war may reinforce Pakistani suspicions that Nato's commitment to backing the next Kabul government is shaky.
Mr Brown must make it clear that there is no mileage for Pakistan in betting that the West will one day abandon Afghanistan, and much to be gained from further co-operation with Britain and America.
No-frills councils
Barnet Council is seeking to apply the power of individual choice to council services, using the model pioneered by successful budget airlines such as easyJet.
For older people, this would mean that instead of being allocated centrally a certain amount of Meals on Wheels or help with cleaning, they would be given a budget to spend on care services as they pleased.
Others could choose whether to pay an extra fee to speed up their planning application.
Individuals are better judges of their own needs and priorities than council staff in a distant town hall.
Experiments with budgets for the disabled suggest that this approach can work. Of course the changes are prompted by the need to save money rather than reform for its own sake.
The dire state of the public finances and the shelving of any reform of council tax under the present government means councils face inevitable cuts in their budgets.
Better targeting of remaining spending is vital if services are to be protected.
And at a time when dozens of council chiefs are paid more than the Prime Minister, millions are spent on glossy town hall magazines and Barnet alone employs 3,500 staff, there is obvious scope for cutting waste in local government.
Barnet's Conservative leader Mike Freer would do well to show that he understands there is a minimum level of decent provision, particularly for the elderly, which must be maintained.
But if he can show he can get more for less by focusing on what residents really want and need, he will indeed make Barnet a model for other councils.
Just not cricket
England won the Ashes last Sunday - but no one at Lambeth council's parking department seemed to notice.
Wardens were ticketing cars around the Oval on Monday in the area where parking had been suspended for the match - even though most of the country was celebrating the fact that it had already been won, without a fifth day being required.
And parking wardens wonder why they are so unpopular.
