15-Dec-2011
Islamabad: Hina Rabbani Khar – the foreign minister of Pakistan, issued the warning in response to American senators’ decision to stop $700 million in aid to Islamabad. The US would be held responsible if Pakistan failed in its fight against terrorism, she added.

According to Ms. Khar, the US would be considered responsible if Pakistan failed in its fight against terrorism or experienced issues – Quoted as saying by TV news channels in Islamabad.

She said this while briefing the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, which had gathered to talk about Pakistan-US relations. Pakistan’s relations with the US, as stated by Ms Khar, are “on hold” but might move forward if Parliament approves.

She gave the parliamentary group information on two official agreements with the US covering NATO supply routes and defense collaboration. She told the panel that every aspect of political, intelligence, and military collaboration with the US is being reviewed.

A bill freezing $700 million in US aid to Pakistan was approved by the US House of Representatives on Wednesday, and the Senate will probably vote on the proposal this week.

The bill will be suspended till Pakistani authorities provide assurances that they have taken action to stop extremists from using IEDs to attack US-led soldiers in Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has stated that Pakistan aims to set “new terms of engagement” for relations with the US and NATO in the event of a cross-border NATO airstrike that left 24 Pakistani soldiers killed last month.