WASHINGTON, Feb 2: The Bush administration has informed Congress that imposing restrictions on Pakistan will put at risk America’s relationship with a crucial partner against terrorism.

In a policy statement submitted to Congress following the adoption of a bill seeking new restrictions on Pakistan, the administration also noted that further tightening of proliferation and WMD-related restrictions limit the president’s “flexibility to conduct foreign policy”.

The proliferation-related restrictions, included in the 2007 version of an act for implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, would make it impossible for Pakistan to receive US assistance.

Although the act did not mention Dr A.Q. Khan and the network he allegedly headed, its language made it obvious that it referred to him and the Khan network of nuclear proliferators.

The House of Representatives has already approved the terrorism and proliferation-related restrictions and the bill is now before the US Senate.

The Senate, however, has indicated that it may adopt a softer approach towards Pakistan than the House. Last week, the Senate approved $3 billion assistance for Pakistan to improve the country’s failing education system and for other development projects.

Referring to the House bill, the administration noted that it also conditions “all foreign assistance to a country's not cooperating with states or individuals who may be engaged in objectionable nuclear explosive-related activities.”

The administration reminded Congress that such provisions “may be counterproductive in the capitals of countries whose cooperation we need, thereby limiting the flexibility of the president to conduct foreign policy.”

The House bill requires the US president also to certify that Pakistan was taking all possible actions to defeat the Taliban before releasing further military assistance to the country.

The administration noted that in the House bill, “the only options available to the president would be to impose sanctions, and possibly jeopardise an ongoing criminal investigation or intelligence sources and methods or waive the imposition of sanctions entirely, but only if he determines that the waiver is important to the national security interests of the United States.”

The Bush administration informed the legislators that it had strengthened its strategic relationship with Pakistan ever since 9/11.