ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A U.S. law linking aid to Pakistan to progress in the fight against militancy and some comments from U.S. politicians were detrimental to cooperation between the countries, Pakistan said on Wednesday.

The warning on relations between the United States and one of its most important allies in the fight against terrorism came in talks in Islamabad between Foreign Minister Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher.

"The foreign minister ... stressed that certain recent U.S. statements were counter-productive ... (and) also expressed concern regarding the recent U.S. legislation," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry did not elaborate on the statements but relations with Pakistan have become a hot topic in the U.S. presidential election campaign.

Democratic candidate Barack Obama said this month that if elected, he would be willing to attack al Qaeda militants inside Pakistan without the approval of its government.

U.S. President George W. Bush described talk of such action as "unsavory" and said he respected Pakistan's sovereignty.

But Bush also signed into law a bill on implementing the recommendations of the September 11 commission, which contained the provision tying aid to Pakistan to its progress in cracking down on al Qaeda and Taliban militants.

The law and tough talk have cast a shadow on the countries' relations. Kasuri told Boucher the law "was contrary to the spirit of Pakistan-U.S. strategic relationship."

The US-led coalition in Afghanistan has admitted it did not have permission from Pakistan to strike Taliban positions across the border at the weekend, citing a “miscommunication” problem.