New York/Islamabad, Dec. 26 (ANI): Pakistani police have said they plan to pursue terrorism charges against the five American men they have apprehended, putting paid to hopes of their early return to the United States.

The five are Muslims from the Washington, DC area and were picked up in central Pakistan this month after allegedly trying to contact al Qaeda.

The future of Pakistan itself hangs in the balance. According to a CBS News report, Pakistan is in turmoil.

Security cameras this week caught a suicide bomber at the moment when he killed three people in Peshawar. It was the seventh bombing in the city in the past two months.

In Islamabad, a Supreme Court decision has left over 150 politicians - including four cabinet ministers - open to investigation on corruption charges.

The political crisis in Pakistan comes at the worst possible time for the United States, which needs the former’s help now more than ever as it pours more troops into neighboring Afghanistan.

The top priority for the U.S. is more assistance in attacking Taliban and al Qaeda safe havens inside Pakistani territory, particularly with unmanned drone aircraft. But these attacks are causing an increase in anti-Americanism across Pakistan.

The stakes are high for both the U.S. and Pakistan.

For the U.S., the problem is a Pakistani government preoccupied with fighting itself - not the Taliban. (ANI)