Pakistanis hope U.S. under Obama will be less bossy

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Barack Obama's victory fostered hopes in Pakistan that the United States would become less overbearing towards its ally in the war on terrorism, and nurture the country's recent return to civilian-led democracy.

"I think he will understand that the use of brute force alone creates more enemies and widens the zone of conflict," Talat Masood, a retired Pakistani general turned analyst, said.

"I think he will put greater emphasis on developing civilian capacities," he added, pointing to a bill proposed by Obama's Vice President-elect Joe Biden to provide Pakistan with a multi-billion dollar "democracy dividend" package.

Under Pakistan's previous leader, former army chief Pervez Musharraf, most U.S. aid went to Pakistan's military. Musharraf quit in August, and his successor, President Asif Ali Zardari, has inherited an economy in danger of meltdown.

Relations between the United States and nuclear-armed Pakistan have been strained by a series of cross-border U.S. strikes, most by missile-firing pilotless drone aircraft, on militant targets in Pakistan.

The strikes have hardened anti-American sentiment in Pakistan at a time when the coalition government is trying to build popular support for its own campaign against Islamist militancy.

Samina Ahmed, South Asia project director for International Crisis Group, believed Obama's victory would lead to a make-over for the United State's image.

"Obama's victory will restore not just the faith of Americans in their democracy, but the world's faith in American democracy," she said.

"Obama and his party will employ a policy of international engagement that is based on consultation and not intimidation."