New U.S. House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Pakistan on Saturday amid concerns over a provision in a U.S. bill proposing restrictions on military aid to Islamabad, Reuters reported. Leading a seven-member delegation, Pelosi is due to meet Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. Under the provision, President George W. Bush has to certify to Congress that Pakistan was doing its level best to combat insurgents before releasing any new military assistance. The Bush administration, however, believes that any such conditionality on aid to Pakistan would undermine cooperation in the war on terrorism and is trying to persuade the Congress to drop the provision before it becomes law. "Such conditionality (would) be counterproductive to the important goal ... of fostering a closer relationship with Pakistan," said a statement on administration policy from Bush's office.
