U.S. Official Mends Fences in Pakistan

U.S. Assistant Defense Secretary Henry Rowen on Sunday ended a four-day visit during which he sought to reassure Pakistani leaders of Washington’s desire to maintain close ties with its South Asian ally despite fears that Islamabad is developing nuclear weapons.

Relations between the two longtime allies have cooled since Washington on Oct. 1 suspended aid to Pakistan because President Bush was unable to certify to Congress that Islamabad was not developing nuclear weapons.

Pakistan is the third largest recipient of U.S. assistance after Israel and Egypt and had been expecting $538 million from the United States next year as part of a six-year, $4.02 billion military and economic aid package.