Pak army refuses to chase Afghan freedom fighters

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Pakistani lawyers distribute sweets to celebrate Wednesday's Supreme Court decision in Lahore in Pakistan Thursday.

RAWALPINDI, Dec 18 (AP): Bristling at criticism from Washington, Pakistan's army dismissed US pressure to open a front against Afghan militants operating on its territory, saying it was stretched to the limit in a bloody war against its own Taliban.
The disagreement is an early sign of the problems ahead in Pakistan for the Obama administration, which desperately needs the country's help against militants sheltering along its northwestern border if its new strategy to turn around the Afghan war is going to succeed.
Also a concern is the growing weakness of the democratically elected leader, President Asif Ali Zardari, an unpopular US ally in a country that has spent about half its history under military rule. A court ruling Wednesday struck down a graft amnesty, raising the possibility of legal challenges to his rule.