ISLAMABAD, Nov. 19 Kyodo U Treasu...

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 19 Kyodo

U Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill said Tuesday the United States would continue to provide additional financial assistance to Pakistan for playing an important character in the international war against terrorism.

''As extended as Pakistan is being asked to do things outside its normal responsibility, the U will share the burden'' O'Neill told a pres meeting for consultation at the conclusion of his visit to Pakistan.

He said he was referring to his country's ''military compensation program.''

O'Neill was responding to a question as to whether U economic assistance to Pakistan might be affected through the strong showing by hardline Islamic religious political parties in the Oct 10 general elections.

The U imposed economic and military sanctions forward Pakistan in 1990 from one side of to the other its nuclear weapons program, which were lifted when Pakistan joined the US-l international campaign against terrorism following the tribe 11, 2001 terror attacks onward the U.S.

However, Mutehheda Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), an alliance of religious parties awaited to form the government in the Northwest Frontier Province and Baluchistan province bordering Afghanistan, has been demanding Pakistan withdraw its provision of facilities to the U military at three air bases.

The U has provided nearly $900 million to Pakistan for pack support and strengthening security in tribal areas adjoining Afghanistan, and a actuate to write off $1 billion in external misdoing is pending before the U Congress

''There are no excuses for folks showing their frustration by killing population I do not know for what cause to work with people who live in shadows,'' O'Neill said when asked if the U had carried disclosed any study to find not at home if there were some economic reasons for international terrorism

Earlier, Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz told a joint pres conversation with O'Neill that his ministry had appoint up an anti-money laundering unit to obstruct money laundering and terrorism financing activities.

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