In Pakistan, a visiting US delegation faced allegations Thursday of trying to pressure the new Pakistani government into supporting the so-called war on terror. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher arrived in Pakistan this week just before the swearing in of new Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. The trip has been seen as a sign of US meddling, coming before Pakistan’s new cabinet has been named. Speaking in Karachi, Negroponte tried to dismiss the speculation.

Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte: “This suggestion that somehow Pakistan — that we expect Pakistan to carry out activities on our behalf and at our behest that are not in Pakistan’s interest is simply wrong. So, I think that anything that is done in this area has got to be in our mutual interest and judged to be of mutual benefit. And, of course, we will respect whatever decision is taken by the Pakistani authorities in that regard.”

Negroponte spoke hours after the Washington Post revealed the US has increased military attacks against what it calls al-Qaeda targets in Pakistan amidst concerns Pakistan’s new government will try to limit future US operations. US military aircraft have struck three targets over the past two months, killing around forty-five foreign fighters near the Afghan border. Civilian casualties are unknown.