Kerry in Pakistan talks over aid row

PAKISTAN: Leading Senator John Kerry and a top US general held talks with Pakistani officials on Monday as Washington tried to counter protests over a controversial 7.5-billion-dollar aid package.

Kerry arrived in Pakistan after US President Barack Obama last week signed the package tripling non-military aid to the nuclear-armed Muslim nation to boost its campaign against a virulent Islamist insurgency.

Although the government here defends the package, Pakistan’s powerful military has expressed grave reservations about conditions that hinge some aid on efforts to battle Islamist extremism.

The senator, a key author of the five-year package aiming to build schools, roads and democratic institutions, began his talks with Pakistan’s army chief of staff Ashfaq Kayani, an embassy official said. He also met Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, ahead of scheduled talks with President Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan’s opposition leader, Nawaz Sharif.

Kerry coincides with a visit from General David Petraeus, commander of the US Central Command that oversees the war in neighbouring Afghani-stan, who held talks with Gilani.

The bill prevents the funding from being used for nuclear proliferation, to support militants or to attack neighbouring countries namely India and calls for a cut-off in aid if Pakistan fails to crack down on extremists.

AFP