Taliban, Qaeda regrouping in Pak: Gates

Washington: Democrats in the US Senate proposed legislation on Wednesday that wants to pressure Pakistan to do more to fight terror but stops short threatening to cut off military aid.

The proposal by leading members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee would not go as far as a measure approved by the House of Representatives, which would tie aid to Pakistan's counter terror efforts.

That measure faces strong opposition from Republican President George W Bush and the Pakistani government.

The Senate resolution was ''intended to put Congress on record as making clear that military assistance to Pakistan will be assessed in the context of efforts in cracking down on the Taliban and al-Qaeda.'' It implied that follow-up legislation would be introduced if Pakistan does not heed that warning.

At stake is the long-delayed sale of 18 new F-16 jet fighters, an option to buy 18 more, and refurbishing of 34 used aircraft in the Pakistan air force's arsenal. The Bush administration announced it was reinstating the $5 billion deal when it approved a nuclear cooperation arrangement with Pakistan's traditional foe, India, last year.

The House version, passed in January, would require Bush to certify that Pakistan is doing all it can to suppress the Taliban militia and the al-Qaeda terror network before further financial aid is released.

The Senate legislation will be attached to the Senate version of an anti-terror bill that in the House contains the more strict aid language.

Differences in the bills will have to be worked out in a committee with members of both chambers. Senate aides said they expect the proposal by senators Joseph Biden, the Foreign Relations chairman, and senior members John Kerry and Chris Dodd to replace the House version, in part because of the strong White House opposition.

Leaders of both the Taliban, who controlled Afghanistan through extremely conservative Islamic law, and al-Qaeda are said to be hiding in the mountains of Pakistan on the Afghan frontier.

The latest proposal was the second in the Senate this week dealing with Pakistan.