US, UK tell Pak future aid will depend on political stability

Islamabad, Mar. 17 (ANI): The US and UK have clearly told the PPP-led federal government and the PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif that future military and financial aid to Pakistan will depend on political stability of the nation.

So far, the US, UK and the Pakistani military have been able to avert a political crisis.

"In the backdrop of all these concerns and fears, the US and UK have conveyed plainly to the main political players in Pakistan as well as the lawyers' leadership their intense desire for the continuity of political process," The Nation quoted a senior official source, as saying.

He said international players have sought firm assurances from major stakeholders in the just resolved political standoff that all of them would not indulge efforts aimed to undermine each other or to derail the political system.

The official added that the country's security establishment would ensure the implementation of newly clinched deal for the continuity of the political system and the strengthening of democracy.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Pakistani leaders that some US lawmakers 'may not feel inclined' to support aid to Islamabad if political chaos continues, a US government source said.

On Monday, Clinton said the decision in Islamabad was "the first step of what has to be an ongoing reconciliation and compromising of political views that can stabilize civilian democracy and the rule of law."

Answering the question-whether she feared the political trouble would distract from Pakistan's fight against Islamist extremism, she said "I think they understand what's at stake." (ANI)