'If at all things become difficult, we will just get all our forces back,' the defense minister said. Pakistan threatens U.S.

Pakistan could pull troops from its border with Afghanistan and deal a setback to America’s war against the Taliban if the United States slashes aid to the country, the Pakistani defense minister threatened Tuesday.

“If at all things become difficult, we will just get all our forces back,” Defense Minister Ahmed Mukhtar said in an interview airing in Pakistan, Reuters reported.


“If Americans refuse to give us money, then okay,” he said. “I think the next step is that the government or the armed forces will be moving from the border areas. We cannot afford to keep military out in the mountains for such a long period.”

Pakistan troops along the border are vital for the U.S. because it helps in the war against the Taliban, who try to exploit the areas in their campaign against American forces.

Mukhtar’s comments came in response to the Obama administration’s confirmation this week that it will be suspending $800 million in aid as the United States and Pakistan “work over time” to improve their increasingly strained relationship in the wake of the killing of Osama bin Laden, White House chief of staff Bill Daley said Sunday. In all, the United States had committed to sending $2 billion to Pakistan this year.

The chief of army staff and the head of the Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence are more powerful in making defense decisions than Mukhtar, Reuters said.

A senior Pakistani official told CBS News that his government might turn to its increasingly “close and effective defense ties” to China in order to “fill the gap” in defense funding.

Pentagon spokesman Colonel David Lapan said Monday that the $800 million could be sent to Pakistan if the country increases the number of visas it offers for U.S. personnel and training missions.

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