Pakistan: We're scapegoats for US frustration over Afghan war
Baku, September 29 (AZERTAC). Pakistan's Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani speaking during an interview with Reuters at his residence in Islamabad, Tuesday, warned the United States to stop accusing Pakistan of playing a double game with Islamist militants, and said Washington must correct a perceived tilt towards arch-foe India.
Pakistan`s prime minister warned Tuesday that if the US didn't stop lobbing accusations at Pakistan, it would be difficult to tamp down anti-American sentiment in his country.
A top Pakistani official has warned that public anger toward the US is getting beyond the government`s control, and blamed the recent spike in tensions on a US administration increasingly anxious to fulfill its mission in Afghanistan ahead of a planned 2014 withdrawal.
Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani told Reuters yesterday that a top US military official's accusation of Pakistani government complicity in terrorist activity was increasing anti-American sentiment - already on the rise after the controversial Navy Seals raid on Osama bin Laden`s compound this spring.
Gilani said Washington should provide the "political space" for his government to convince a skeptical Pakistani public of the value of a relationship with the United States.
While Prime Minister Gilani blamed Washington`s stepped-up accusations on frustration with the Afghanistan war, US officials say it has more to do with Pakistan`s increasing use of groups like the Haqqani network as proxies in Afghanistan, CBS reported last week.
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