Obama tough-talking causing unease in Pak establishment

Though Pakistan has broadly welcomed the new US Afghan-Pak policy, there are indications here that President Barack Obama's tough talking has caused some "pretty big problems" for the country's leadership.

Though Pakistan has broadly welcomed the new US Afghan-Pak policy, there are indications here that President Barack Obama's tough talking has caused some "pretty big problems" for the country's leadership.

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Pakistan will convey through diplomatic channels its concerns over certain aspects of the new US policy announced by Obama this week, officials said.

"We will speak to them (the US) on issues of concern in subsequent diplomatic negotiations," presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar told the Dawn newspaper.

Senior officials of the Foreign Office too said Pakistan's concerns would not go unnoticed and would be taken up at an "appropriate level".

Obama had announced several incentives, including a hike in economic aid for Pakistan, passage of a law on Reconstruction Opportunity Zones for the country's tribal areas and commitment to democracy.

However, at the same time, he bluntly said there would be no "blank cheques" for Pakistan and that it will have to show commitment to eliminate al-Qaeda within its borders.