Pakistani PM rejects conditions attached to U.S. aid

Xinhua News Agency :

13 Apr, 2009

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Monday that the United States should not set conditions for its financial assistance, demanding stop of drone attacks inside Pakistan.

"Pakistan-U.S. relationship should be based on mutual respect and trust," said Gilani while meeting with visiting U.S. Senator John Kerry.

Pakistan has done a lot in war against terrorism. Conditional aid will not help in war against terror, Gilani said.

The prime minister also urged the United States to stop drone attacks and ensure intelligence-sharing.

Kerry, chairman of U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, arrived in Islamabad on Monday to talk with Pakistani leaders on the proposed financial aid package to the country.

John is also expected to meet with Pakistani President Asif AliZardari and hold talks with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

"He would discuss the prudent utilization of the assistance money during his meetings," the English-language newspaper Daily Times reported on Monday.

U.S. Senator John Kerry and Senator Richard Lugar has proposed a bill for tripling of the non-civilian aid to Pakistan to 1.5 billion dollars a year for a period of five years.

Unveiling a new U.S. strategy to defeat Taliban and al-Qaeda last month, U.S. President Barack Obama called upon the Congress to approve the Kerry-Lugar bill to meet Pakistan's economic challenge.

But the Obama administration has said that the assistance could only be provide[d] when Pakistan demonstrates strong commitment to rooting out militancy and terrorism.

Pakistan has warned that its would not need support attached with conditions from the United States.