PTI questions govt. over straining Pak-US ties

Amid reports of the Pentagon withholding the share of military reimbursements to Islamabad, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has voiced concerns over the relationship between the two nations.

PTI leader Dr. Shireen Mazari demanded explanations at the National Assembly (NA) on Thursday, while referring to media reports related to the payment of $300 million by Washington and the participation of Pakistan in an aerial exercise in the U.S. alongside Israel.

"We do not recognise Israel. The defence minister should tell whether reports about the exercise in US are true. If this is true, then tell us why are we taking part in the exercise?" the Express Tribune quoted Mazari as saying.

Mazari, referring to other report, on Pentagon not paying Islamabad its share of military reimbursements asked the government for an explanation saying 'whether or not we would act as per the dictates of the US'.

Reports had surfaced that Pentagon will not pay $300 million in military reimbursements to Islamabad after U.S. Secretary of Defence Ash Carter decided not to tell Congress that Pakistan was taking adequate action against the Haqqani network.

Relations between the two countries have been strained as Washington feels Islamabad is not doing enough to act against extremist groups such as the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network.