Islamabad condemns US bill tying aid to anti-militant efforts

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan on Saturday condemned U.S. legislation tying American aid to Islamabad's efforts to stop al-Qaida, the Taliban and other anti-Western extremists from operating in its territory.

The bill, approved by the House of Representatives on Friday but still requiring U.S. President George W. Bush's signature, has clauses that "cast a shadow on the existing cooperation between Pakistan and United States," the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

"The bill is disappointing from Pakistan's point of view," it said.

Pakistan, a predominantly Muslim nation, is a close U.S. ally in the war against terrorism.

A recent U.S. intelligence report indicated al-Qaida may be regrouping in Pakistan's tribal regions where officials have said some 80,000 troops have been deployed to track down militants.

The legislation, which has also been passed by the Senate, was part of a package of security provisions for the United States recommended by the independent commission that studied U.S. government actions before and after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

It has been sent to Bush for his signature, and will take effect Oct. 1 if he approves it.

Under the law, Bush would have to report to Congress that Pakistan is making progress in combating al-Qaida and the Taliban before any aid could be disbursed.

"On our part, at various stages in the evolution of the bill, we had conveyed our objections to the U.S. administration and the members of Congress especially to creating any linkage between assistance and our counterterrorism efforts," the Pakistani statement said.

"Such a linkage did not serve the interest of bilateral cooperation in the past and it can prove to be detrimental in the future," it said.

In the most recent National Intelligence Estimate, U.S. analysts said al-Qaida had become increasingly comfortable in Pakistan because of an accord between President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and Pakistani tribal leaders along the Afghan border.

Earlier this month, militants announced an end to the deal, and a string of deadly attacks on security forces in the region have followed.

U.S. officials have said they expect Pakistan to launch more military strikes on Islamic militants while the Bush administration pumps hundreds of millions of dollars in development aid into lawless tribal regions to fight extremism.

"We will continue to fight al-Qaida, Talibanization and other terrorist and extremist elements with resolve and determination," the Pakistani ministry said.