Pak accuses US of Indian bias
Mubashir Zaidi - Hindustan times

Pakistan on Monday openly accused the United States of being selective in imposing new sanctions against its National Development Complex for violating the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).

The US, it alleged, had deliberately avoided imposing similar sanctions against India, which it claimed was getting help from other countries in its missile programme.

"While the new sanctions will have little practical impact they are indicative of a selective US approach on the issue. The US itself has acknowledged that missile-related transfers are taking place in our neighbourhood. These relate to development of supersonic cruise missiles as well ballistic missiles through acquisition of technology from other countries, including European sources.

"These activities clearly violate MTCR parameters yet no sanctions have been imposed against these violations. Only Pakistani entities have been subjected to MTCR sanctions on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations," a Foreign Office spokes-man said in a statement.

Calling the move without justification, the statement said, "Pakistan has not received any technology or equipment from China in violation of MTCR parameters. China has also categorically rejected the allegations of any such transfer."

This is the first time that Pakistan has come out openly against US policies, describing them as discriminatory and in favour of India.

The National Development Complex was already under US sanctions imposed after Pakistan's 1998 nuclear tests.

US sets political targets for IMF bailout

Pakistan is under pressure from the United States to accept certain political conditions in return for an International Monetary Fund bailout package to end its financial worries.

"The biggest issue is Pakistan's Afghan policy," a diplomatic sources close to the international financial institution and top Pakistani officials said.

The unofficial set of political conditions include a change in Pakistan's policy towards the Taliban government in Afghanistan, help in catching Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden, acceptance of UN monitors on Afghanistan, reigning in of jehadi organisations, freezing of the nuclear and missile programmes and improvement of relations with India.IANS, Islamabad