Congressional sanctions punishing Pakistan for possessing nuclear arms prevented the administration from offering incentives to Islamabad.

He was further disconcerted when the USA began punishing Pakistan with economic and military sanctions for its secret nuclear program.

Their intent, he added, was "never to punish Pakistan or its people or precipitate an economic collapse."

Although India has denied the Pakistani allegations, Indian officers acknowledge that commando missions across the line of control have been one means of punishing Pakistan for supporting the rebels.

Inzamam stages walk-off protest (2006) When umpire Darrell Hair punished Pakistan for ball-tampering they refused to reappear after tea.

To punish Pakistan for Indian proliferation is warped logic.

Pakistan, which tested a nuclear device last year, is watching for India's reaction, and hopes for sanctions punishing Pakistan for its test to be lifted.

The first round of sanctions came in 1990, when Washington acted to punish Pakistan for developing nuclear weapons.

In effect, the Pakistani officials said, American officials had told General Musharraf's government that Washington would use every lever "short of war" to punish Pakistan unless it cooperated.

And the policy encourages India to avoid meaningful negotiations with Pakistan, since it is content with a policy that punishes only Pakistan.