US concerned about its negative image in Pakistan

Washington is concerned about its negative images among the Pakistanis, vowing to use its diplomatic assets and aid to turn the tide, the US State Department said on Thursday.We are concerned about the public opinion polling numbers in Pakistan, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said, when asked why the US, instead of India, is now perceived by many Pakistanis as their number one enemy while providing them with billions dollars of aid each year.Nulands comments came after US President Barack Obama, just hours ago, warned Pakistan on its alleged ties with militant groups, including the Haqqani network, saying Washington will not accept a long-term relationship in which Pakistan is not mindful of US interests.She said that a key focus of US embassy in Islamabad is to give an accurate picture to a broad cross-section of Pakistanis, admitting it is sometimes hard to permeate, given the intense emotions about other aspects of the relationship.She emphasized that the US civilian aid to Pakistan, which has not been affected the soured relationship, will help Pakistan to improve its economy, education etc., adding that the US will continue to make efforts on these areas to support the country.Last month, the then Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen publicly accused the Haqqani network of being a veritable arm of the Pakistani intelligence service, which prompted furious response from Pakistan.The recent row has sent the two countries relations to a new low, which had already been seriously damaged after US special forces secretly entered Pakistan and killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden without knowledge and permission from Islamabad in May.