Pakistani officials have warned the Bush administration against sending troops against al-Qaida and Taliban strongholds to prevent their attacking U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan. Yet, Pakistan is also showing reluctance to act against militants in the border region.

In a series of meetings with Pakistani leaders reported by the New York Times, U.S. military and diplomatic officials were advised against any raids by American forces inside Pakistan, mainly in the northwestern tribal areas providing haven to the militants. The United States has launched airstrikes against targets in the region, but has not sent troops in.

"We told them physical intervention into the tribal areas by the United States would be a blunder," Afrasiab Khattak, leader of the governing party in the North-West Frontier Province, said of a meeting with Stephen J. Hadley, the president's national security adviser, and John D. Negroponte, deputy secretary of state.

Mr. Khattak said sending U.S. troops into Pakistan could backfire, rallying support for the terrorists.

However, cross-border attacks by al-Qaida from Pakistan have increased in Afghanistan, from 20 a month in March 2007 to 53 last month. Yet, Pakistani officials are not concerned.

Owari Ghani, governor of the North-West Frontier province, said, "Pakistan will take care of its own problems; you take care of Afghanistan on your side." He is also President Pervez Musharraf's representative in charge of the neighboring tribal areas.

"Pakistan is a sovereign state," Mr. Ghani said. "NATO is in Afghanistan; it's time they did some soldiering."

Pakistan instead is focusing on arranging a peace agreement with the militants to stem suicide attacks on internal targets and to restore stability in the country. The deal does not include stopping cross-border raids in Afghanistan.

And Pakistan has halted operations against the militants.

The Pakistani policies will give the militants more freedom and put civilians and coalition forces in Afghanistan at greater risk.