Islamabad, Aug 02: Charging India with trying to block the three billion dollar proposed us aid package, Pakistan has said it would do its utmost to "abort" any such attempt in the Congress. "We regret that India is in a position to block Pakistan's interests. India should act in a more mature manner," foreign office spokesman Masood Khan was quoted as saying today. Alleging that India was lobbying in the us congress against the aid package, Masud Khan told 'Dawn' newspaper that it was "not a very helpful development". Disbursement of the package has been linked to Pakistan's continued commitment to the global anti-terrorism campaign, nuclear non-proliferation and restoration of democracy in the country. The US president has to certify every year that Pakistan is adhering to these preconditions.

Pakistani diplomats in Washington are said to be working with members of the Congress and Bush administration to water down the tone of the bill, according to the report.

"There is a high probability that the senate version would change in favour of Pakistan," Khan said. Last month, an amendment was introduced in the foreign aid authorisation bill in the us congress. The amendment, passed with 382 to 42 votes in the house of representatives, made it binding on the us president to certify to congress that Pakistan had "closed all known terrorist training camps operating in Pakistan and Pakistani-held Kashmir."

Bureau Report