Its top officials are “irked” that the billions Obama has pledged in aid actually have strings attached — probably conditions such as “this money is not to be given to the Taliban or al-Qaeda,” and other unreasonable demands. To further protest, Pakistan’s ISI agency, which is well linked to jihadis and terrorists, has refused to meet with American officials (they are “offended” at the implication).
“Pakistan wants ‘unconditional’ aid to fight terror,” from Japan Today, April 7:
ISLAMABAD “”
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari told two top U.S. envoys that his country needs “unconditional support” in a range of areas to defeat the al-Qaida and Taliban fighters threatening its survival.
The sentiments reflect Pakistani dissatisfaction with American pledges to tack conditions onto billions in expected aid funds designed to help Pakistan end militancy in its borders.
Zardari met with U.S. special envoy Richard Holbrooke and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff late Monday, according to a press release from the president’s office. Holbrooke was to address reporters Tuesday along with the Pakistani foreign minister.[…]
Obama has urged Pakistan’s government to take the terrorist fight seriously, but has said his pledges for billions in increased aid to the country will come with unspecified conditions and measures to judge the performance of the Muslim nation in the fight against militants.
That has irked Pakistani officials and underscored a trust deficit exacerbated by U.S. concerns that Pakistan’s top spy agency is maintaining links to the Taliban and other groups involved in attacks on American and NATO forces in Afghanistan…