WASHINGTON - After heavy criticism of Pakistan’s role in the war on terror coupled with demands for aid cut-off following the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, some voices of reason have begun to emerge in the media opposing the notion of sanctioning the country and emphasising that Washington very much needs Islamabad’s cooperation.
While the US administration officials have been underscoring the importance of Pakistan’s strategic position and maintaining partnership with it, the Congressional leaders were vociferous in calling for withholding aid for what they call is the country’s duplicity in combating terrorism.
On Saturday, the Los Angeles Times major asked the Congress to back off from moves like withholding 75 per cent of US security assistance for Pakistan as such threats jeopardize the “strategically vital” relationship, which is “crucial” to curbing militant threat in the region.
In an editorial, the newspaper observed on Saturday that as the Obama administration tries to preserve a “crucial relationship” - in the wake of unilateral American raid on bin Laden’s hideout in Abbottabad “congressional interference is doing more harm than good.”
“It turns out that killing bin Laden was the easy part. Dealing with the political fallout from the May 2 raid on the Al Qaeda leader’s Pakistan compound is proving trickier. And Congress isn’t helping.”
The newspaper refers to stance adopted by politicians from both parties, including Republican presidential candidates Newt Gingrich and Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) and Democratic Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif) and Patrick Leahy (D-Va), who are questioning whether that assistance should be maintained.
While the US administration officials have been underscoring the importance of Pakistan’s strategic position and maintaining partnership with it, the Congressional leaders were vociferous in calling for withholding aid for what they call is the country’s duplicity in combating terrorism.
On Saturday, the Los Angeles Times major asked the Congress to back off from moves like withholding 75 per cent of US security assistance for Pakistan as such threats jeopardize the “strategically vital” relationship, which is “crucial” to curbing militant threat in the region.
In an editorial, the newspaper observed on Saturday that as the Obama administration tries to preserve a “crucial relationship” - in the wake of unilateral American raid on bin Laden’s hideout in Abbottabad “congressional interference is doing more harm than good.”
“It turns out that killing bin Laden was the easy part. Dealing with the political fallout from the May 2 raid on the Al Qaeda leader’s Pakistan compound is proving trickier. And Congress isn’t helping.”
The newspaper refers to stance adopted by politicians from both parties, including Republican presidential candidates Newt Gingrich and Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) and Democratic Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif) and Patrick Leahy (D-Va), who are questioning whether that assistance should be maintained.