U.S. Strikes Delicate Balance on Pakistan

This particular article has some clarifying info on our involvement with Pakistan, and some statements/viewpoints from people who are familiar with the area and the situation.

Morning Edition, November 7, 2007 · California Rep. Tom Lantos and Delaware Sen. Joe Biden each got an unlikely phone call on Tuesday — from the president of Pakistan, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who declared a state of emergency in his country over the weekend.

Lantos and Biden, chairmen the committees in the House and Senate that deal with foreign relations, are facing increasing calls from members of Congress to suspend aid to Pakistan.

Musharraf's suspension of Pakistan's constitution, clamp down on the media and arrest of thousands of opposition activists has drawn international condemnation. But so far, the White House has done little more than declare its disappointment and urge Musharraf to put his country back on the road to democracy.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, Musharraf has been hailed by the Bush administration as a critical ally in the war on terror. Roughly $11 billion in U.S. aid has flowed into the country — mostly for counter-terrorism operations.

More (including the statements and views I mentioned) at: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16067512

There's also an audio of the piece.