Key US lawmakers unwilling to back Pak military aid: official

Key American lawmakers are not prepared to support US giving military aid to Pakistan without "some specific actions" by that country in combating terrorism, the Obama administration has said.
"Key members of Congress have been clear they're not prepared to support US military aid to Pakistan absent some specific actions," State Department spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau told reporters.
Trudeau, however, would not say what specific actions US lawmakers want Pakistan to take before they can support the military aid.
"I would direct you to Congress, those specific members, for anything further on their position. As always, we are committed to working with Congress to deliver security assistance to our partners and allies. It furthers US goals by building capacity to meet shared security challenges," she said.

Asked if the State Department is willing to certify that Islamabad is taking enough action against the Haqqani network, Trudeau said: "We've spoken about our views on Haqqani quite a bit as well as what we view Pakistan needs to do."
She said Pakistan has said they would not discriminate against militant groups.

"We could encourage them to continue to live up to that," she said.
Meanwhile The New York Times in an editorial praised Senator Bob Corker, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for putting a hold on the sale of eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan with American taxpayers' money.

"Senator Bob Corker, Republican of Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has wisely barred the use of American aid to underwrite Pakistan's purchase of eight F-16s. Pakistan will still be allowed to purchase the planes, but at a cost of USD 700 million instead of about the USD 380 million," The Times' Editorial Board said.
"Mr Corker told The Times he would lift the hold on the aid if Pakistan cracks down on the Haqqani network, which he called the 'No 1 threat' to Afghanistan and American troops there," it said, adding that "it is time to put the squeeze on Pakistan."

"Pakistan's double game has long frustrated American officials, and it has grown worse. There are now efforts in Washington to exert more pressure on Pakistan Army," it said.
Responding to the damning editorial, Pakistan's Ambassador to the US, Jalil Abbas Jilani, said allegations of duplicity and double game are extremely painful especially when his country has suffered the most due to war in Afghanistan.
Congressman William Keating ranking member of the
Subcommittee on Terrorism, Non-Proliferation and Trade asked panelists if ISIS was a state within a state.
"It is by no means a rogue institution within Pakistan. It does not operate independently or on its own. It is an instrument or an arm of the Pakistani army. It is implementing the policies of the Pakistani army. It is implementing on behalf of the Pakistani Army," said Tricia Bacon, Assistant Professor, American University.

"Roggio said ISI is an arm of the Pakistani military. It is executing the will of the Pakistani military, which is really the Pakistani State. The (elected) government is just the face of the Pakistani military," Bacon said.
"I concur with my colleagues," Khalilzad said.
Salmon said he personally believed that as the first step, the US should completely cut off aid to Pakistan.
"That would be the right first step. If we do not any changes, we move some of the other suggestions, state sponsor terrorism, possible economic sanctions. I personally believe we have the worst policy that we have and what we are doing is rewarding thugs," Salmon said.