US is ‘harming’ ties

President Barack Obama’s warning to Islamabad over suspected ties to militants will only fuel anti-Americanism and make it harder for Pakistan to support US efforts to stabilise Afghanistan, a senior senator said on Friday. “This is not helping either the United States, Afghanistan or Pakistan,” Salim Saifullah, chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, said. “There will be pressure on the (Pakistan) government to get out of this war,” he said, referring to the US war on militancy. Instead of public confrontation, Obama should work more closely with Pakistan to help Afghanistan, said Saifullah.  “This is no time for this kind of (allegation) when they are pulling out,” he said. “They should be seriously working on the endgame.”  Saifullah said Washington’s public criticism of Pakistan would only encourage militant groups. ( From The Gulf Today )