Pallone backs ending military assistance to Pakistan

Maintaining that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is paying "lip service" to the war on terror, US Democratic Congressman Frank Pallone has backed the end of military assistance and arms sales to Islamabad until it "actively works" to end the activities of Taliban.

"It seems that President Musharraf is paying the US lip service by claiming to be supportive of the global war on terror, yet failing to take action against Taliban fighters that have set up training camps in the western region of his country," the founder of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans said in a statement.

He referred to a bill, H.R.1 passed by Democrats earlier in January in the House of Representatives which calls for ending US military assistance and arms sales licensing to Pakistan in the 2008 fiscal unless it certifies that it is "making all possible efforts" to end Taliban activities on Pakistani soil.

"It is my hope that, coupled with international pressure, the language in H.R.1 will convince President Musharraf to take immediate action against the Taliban militants in his country," the senior lawmaker in the House of Representatives said.