LOC19:36
16:36 GMT
ISLAMABAD, April 11 (KUNA) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza
Gilani Saturday said that Pakistan would not accept any conditions harmful for
national interests for the US aid.
"Pakistan is a sovereign country, a self-respecting nation and front line
ally in the war against terrorism and will not accept such conditions that are
against the interests and stature of the country", the Prime Minister told
newsmen in eastern Multan city.
According to press reports here on Saturday Pakistan has fully displayed
its defiance against the United States by urging the American authorities to
not attach "intrusive" conditions to the aid they have offered.
"Once again there's talk of fixing Afghanistan and Pakistan. Please do not
fix us," said Pakistani ambassador Hussain Haqqani in a joint appearance with
his Afghan counterpart at a Washington think-tank, the Atlantic Council.
"Mistakes have been committed on all sides. But this lack of trust will be
addressed by talking to us, not by beating down on us," said the Pakistani
ambassador designated in Washington.
Washington has increased aid to Pakistan to USD 7.5 billion under Pakistan
Enduring Assistance and Cooperation Enhancement (PEAC) Act of 2009 but has
also increased accountability for the every penny spent as well as added lists
of do's and don'ts.
The conditions include no "support to any person or group that conducts
violence, sabotage or other activities meant to instill fear or terror in
India" and recognizing that certain elements in its (Pakistan) establishment,
specially spy agency ISI, have aided and trained such organizations over the
past few decades.
Also, without directly naming disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist A.Q.
Khan, the bill asks Islamabad to ensure access of US investigators to
individuals suspected of engaging in worldwide proliferation of nuclear
materials, restrict such individuals from any travel or any other activity
that could result in further proliferation and control of the syllabus of
these religious seminaries, believed to have been a breeding ground for
terrorists. (end)
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KUNA 111936 Apr 09NNNN