PTI

Washington, Apr 22: Islamic extremism, not India is Pakistan's enemy No.1 and this needs to be understood very clearly by the establishment in Islamabad, a powerful US Senator has said.

"Pakistanis have to understand that their major enemy in the region is no longer India, but it's Islamist extremism. In fact, they have a common enemy in that with the Indians," said Senator Joseph Lieberman in his interaction at the Council on Foreign Relations, an American think-tank.

Lieberman, Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, said it is difficult to convince the Pakistani establishment. "That's a tough sell," he said.

Responding to questions, Senator Lieberman reiterated that any new aid to Pakistan needs to be conditional and linked to its success in the fight against terrorism.

"I think we're trying to come to a point where we essentially -- it's another one of those more for more exchanges. We will help you more -- including financially -- if you will do more to increase the capacity of your government to deliver for your people, to break continuing ties between ISI and the Taliban," he said.