WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Pakistani leaders that some US lawmakers “may not feel inclined” to support aid to Islamabad if political chaos continued, a top US official said on Monday.

But the official, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, said Ms Clinton presented the issue as a reality rather than a threat in her calls on Saturday to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Ms Clinton phoned Mr Zardari and Mr Gilani as well as opposition leader Nawaz Sharif on Saturday ahead of a protest march on Islamabad which risked further destabilising the nuclear-armed nation.

“One of the points the secretary made was that many in Congress are concerned about the situation on the ground in Pakistan,” the official told reporters.

“There are some in Congress who may not feel inclined to support additional assistance to Pakistan and that’s a reality. We’ve heard those types of calls coming from Congress,” according to the official.

The secretary gave “friendly advice”, telling her interlocutors they have “got to get the situation under control. This is not in the best interest — not only of your people, but of the region,” the official said.—AFP
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