With Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf commanding little influence over terrorists and religious extremists, his Islamist opponents could 'instigate' a coup or assassination, a senior US intelligence official has said.

Deposing before a Senate Committee on Intelligence, Director of the US Defence Intelligence Agency, Vice-Admiral Lowell E Jacoby, said, "Popular hostility to the US is growing and Islamist opponents of the current government could try to instigate a political crisis through violent means.

"Coup or assassination could result in an extremist Pakistan," he said.

While Pakistan is making progress in its return to functional democracy, the official said, "Musharraf faces significant political and economic challenges and continued opposition."

On Indo-Pak ties, he said, "With Kashmir situation still unresolved and with continued cross-border infiltration from Pakistan, the potential for miscalculation between the two countries remains high, especially in the wake of some violent 'triggering event' such as another spectacular terrorist attack or political assassination."