GUJRAT, Oct 25: In what may be seen as a sign of government losing patience after trumpeting ‘freedom of expression’ for sometime, defense minister Ahmed Mukhtar has accused the electronic media of sensationalising news in way a which might break up the country, saying their policies are ‘against Pakistan’.

Talking to newsmen at his office in Gujrat on Saturday, the minister said in the critical phase the country was passing through the news reporting should be responsible but it was being sensationalised.

To a query regarding the training of armed forces by US army, he said the Americans would train Pakistani forces in Warsak area, and not in Tarbela, and officials of both Pak army and NATO forces would participate in the exercise.

He said the government decided to involve US army in the troops’ training to learn the use of advanced military technology and techniques of guerilla warfare.

Dispelling the impression Islamabad was under Washington’s pressure as far as decision making was concerned, he claimed the government was ‘hundred per cent independent’.

Responding to another question, he said the government had tried to negotiate with the militants in the past but the dialogue never proved successful.

He said Pakistan was not the only country facing financial slump, rather it was a global phenomena, and hoped the government would overcome the financial crisis.

“When we came to power, the government was depending on the banks and the past rulers are responsible for the country’s current economic crisis,” he said, adding China had pledged a ‘relief package’, besides technological support to over come the energy crisis in the country. President Asif Zardari would visit Saudi Arabia for more economic assistance, he added.