Cutting aid will be counter-productive for war on terror: Pak PM warns US

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has warned the US against cutting military assistance, saying it will be counter-productive, a media report said on Tuesday.

According to Urdu daily Roznama Express, Abbasi said that any such move would harm the war against militancy, which both countries are fighting for the last 16 years, reports Xinhua news agency.

He warned that Washington will not achieve its counter-terrorism aims by "starving" Pakistan of funds, adding that both countries need to make cooperative efforts to win over militancy in the region.

The Prime Minister's remarks came after Washington asked Islamabad to do more against the Haqqani Network terror group, which the US believes has close ties with Pakistan.

The US also conditioned future aid to Pakistan on its tackling the network which is believed to be carrying out terrorist attacks on allied forces in Afghanistan.

Abbasi said it was unfair on Washington's part to hold Pakistan responsible for all the troubles it was facing against militants in Afghanistan.

He urged the US to show more appreciation for Pakistan's losses in war on terror and its role in hosting 3.5 million Afghan refugees.

Talking about the US Congress blocking the sale of subsidiSed F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, Abbasi said that Islamabad will have no choice but to look at other options to maintain its national defensive forces.