Pakistan reacts angrily to Clinton remarks.

While Pakistan will continue to follow US policy as much as is politically possible this type of reaction simply fuels anti-Americanism and may make Zardari even more vulnerable to opposition attacks. The Pakistani armed forces is already engaged in an extensive and costly campaign against Taliban militants. Of course the offensive is primarily against Taliban operating against the Pakistani govt. and there is a tacit agreement with some other militants that they will be left alone for now and some of those other militants mount raids across the border into Afghanistan. Even so Clinton's remarks are wholly unproductive as well as being insensitive in a situation where Pakistan is suffering huge attacks by Islamic militants.

The response of the western diplomat was typical. Pakistan will be strongly influenced by the US because he who pays the piper plays the tune. But if the US continues to feel that it is being double crossed at times it has only itself to blame. Although Pakistan will go along with the US to the degree necessary to get aid, it will also work against the US as far as possible whenever it thinks it is necessary for its own interest. Just because the US refuses to recognise any self interest but its own is no reason to expect Pakistan to ignore its own self interest simply because it is highly dependent on US aid. In fact if the US presses even more one can expect that Pakistan will look to other countries for help.

Pakistan Lashes Back at Clinton

Pakistani officials reacted angrily Thursday night to U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton's remarks earlier in the day in which she said, she found it "hard to believe" that no one in Pakistan's government, including the country's "military security establishment," knew where al Qaeda leaders were hiding.

...The controversy could overshadow Clinton's first visit to the country as Secretary of State, especially as her remarks will be seen questioning the sincerity of the influential military, Pakistani officials said.

"If we are going to have a mature partnership where we work together" then "there are issues that not just the United States but others have with your government and with your military security establishment," Clinton was quoted telling senior Pakistani journalists in Lahore. "I find it hard to believe that nobody in your government knows where they (al Qaeda leaders) are and couldn't get them if they really wanted to," she said.

...."How can the U.S. at this time be so insensitive for Mrs. Clinton to speak out in public in this way," asked the Pakistani government official. "These remarks suggest a very high degree of insensitivity." However, Western diplomats said Clinton's trip following the recent Kerry-Lugar bill passed by the U.S. Congress which triples U.S. aid to Pakistan to an annual of $1.5 billion over the next five years, was likely to enhance U.S. influence in the country.

"The U.S. position will become stronger if the money begins flowing in. While there will be heart-burning among segments of the Pakistani government, the U.S. will remain a very influential country," a Western diplomat in Islamabad told CBS News.
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