Pakistan Denies ‘Secret Understanding’ on US Strikes

A spokesman from the Pakistani embassy denied tonight a report that his government has a “secret understanding” with the United States on the contentious issue of unilateral US air strikes launched into Pakistani territory. The report stems from comments in an article by the Washington Post’s David Ignatius, who said “Pakistan’s leaders publicly decry U.S. attacks, and the United States, with a wink and a nudge to its ally, keeps on attacking.”

The Pakistani government has angrily condemned the repeated strikes, most recently in a meeting yesterday with General David Petraeus. Though the Bush Administration continues to insist it is working with Pakistan in a “co-operative spirit,” they have declined to offer any assurance against future air strikes.

Pakistani officials have suggested they will ratchet up pressure on the next US President over the strikes, but with Senator Obama one of the most outspoken advocates of unilateral strikes on Pakistan throughout the campaign it seems unlikely his administration will be any more receptive to the Pakistani complaints than the present one is.