SCENARIOS - Major foreign policy issues facing new US president

(Reuters) - As the next U.S. president, Barack Obama will face a full plate of foreign policy challenges.

Here are some of the top issues:

WAR ON TERRORISM AND AL QAEDA

Al Qaeda militants who have gained strength in the tribal region of Pakistan are an increasing U.S. concern. Obama has said that if the United States has top al Qaeda members in its sights and Pakistan is unwilling or able to act, the United States should take them out.

AFGHANISTAN

Obama has said he would put more focus on defeating the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan and eradicating al Qaeda from Pakistan's borderlands. He has also said he would boost U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan from the current 32,000.

The Bush administration is considering talks with "reconcilable" Taliban elements as part of its review of Afghanistan strategy. But no decision has been made and it will be up to Obama to decide whether to go ahead.

IRAQ

Obama, who opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq, has called for a 16-month timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq to enable a greater focus on Afghanistan.