US unveils Pakistan aid projects

The five-year package, which was agreed by Congress last year, includes projects for two hydro-electric dams.

Mrs Clinton said the US wanted to show it cared about ordinary Pakistanis, not just securing Islamabad's co-operation in the fight against militants.

She is en route to a major donor conference in Afghanistan on Tuesday.

"We know that there is a perception held by too many Pakistanis that America's commitment to them begins and ends with security," said America's top diplomat.

"We have not done a good enough job of connecting our partnership with concrete improvements in the lives of Pakistanis. With this dialogue, we are working to change that."

As well as two dams, Mrs Clinton unveiled funding for drinking water and irrigation projects, and health centres.

The BBC's Kim Ghattas, who is travelling with the US secretary of state, notes Mrs Clinton also said the US expected Pakistanis to take extra steps to tackle militants.

Mrs Clinton told the BBC she worried all the time about the possibility of an attack against the US emanating from Pakistan, and warned such an attack would have a "devastating impact" on relations between Washington and Islamabad.

On Sunday, Mrs Clinton helped broker an important trade agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which allows Afghan trucks to use a land route through Pakistan to carry goods to India.

The BBC's Lyse Doucet in Kabul says all sides know that if there is to be greater co-operation on tackling a growing Taliban insurgency, including sanctuaries in Pakistan, relations have to start improving on all fronts; Kazinform cites BBC. See www.news.bbc.co.uk for full version.