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InterAction, an alliance of nongovernmental organizations. "I fear the CIA's activities in Pakistan and the perception that U.S. NGOs have ties with intelligence efforts may have contributed to these alarming developments." Afridi's conviction and sentencing come at a particularly sensitive time in U.S.-Pakistani relations, as both sides try to patch up an alliance battered by a series of crises over the last year and a half. Pakistanis were deeply angered by the Bin Laden raid, principally because Washington opted not to inform Islamabad in advance of the operation. The relationship further deteriorated in November, when U.S. airstrikes mistakenly killed 24 Pakistani soldiers at their outposts near the Afghan border. Islamabad in effect froze ties with the U.S. after that incident and halted NATO's use of Pakistan as a transit country for fuel and nonlethal supplies destined for Western troops in Afghanistan. Though Pakistan has signaled an interest in reopening those supply routes, it also wants the U.S. and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to agree to a massive increase in transit fees. Pakistan had been charging about $250 per truck and is now demanding at least $5,000 per truck. U.S. officials have called the demand excessive. alex.rodriguez@latimes.com Special correspondent Zulfiqar Ali in Peshawar, Pakistan, contributed to this report.