US attempts to defend its decision

The US administration Monday defended its decision to suspend $800 million of military aid to Pakistan, saying its uneasy ally needed to make a greater effort in the fight against Islamists. "When it comes to our military assistance, we're not prepared to continue providing that at the pace that we were providing it unless and until we see certain steps taken," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.
The United States was particularly "looking to improve our co-operation in counterterrorism, in counterinsurgency," she told journalists. Nuland recalled that on May 25, Islamabad demanded that about 100 US advisers leave Pakistani soil, effectively halting military training, adding "we obviously can't do that in an environment where Pakistan has asked our trainers to go." Nuland stressed Monday that "the United States continues to seek a constructive, collaborative, mutually beneficial relationship with Pakistan." "We've been talking to Pakistan at all levels about the issues behind these decisions," she said.