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US House panel rejects India tag to Pak aid
WASHINGTON (AFP) - A US congressional committee Wednesday approved
a giant aid package for Pakistan but more political dealing was
expected amid controversy over the conditions it imposes on
Islamabad.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee approved a plan to triple US aid
to 1.5 billion dollars annually through the 2013 fiscal year, with a
focus on development including improving education.
US President Barack Obama has endorsed plans to ramp up aid to
Pakistan, hoping it will boost his administration’s key goal of
rooting out extremism both in the nuclear-armed Islamic nation and
neighbouring Afghanistan. But lawmakers will still need to reach a
compromise as a bill before the Senate would similarly step up
assistance but without imposing the same level of conditions.
The House bill would require a detailed account of spending and seek
proof that Pakistan is clamping down on Al-Qaeda and Taliban
militants - including ending alleged support to extremists by rogue
intelligence elements.
President Asif Ali Zardari’s government has bristled at such
conditions, saying they were politically unfeasible at a time that
many in his country were already suspicious of US intentions.
Howard Berman, chairman of the House committee, rejected the
criticism, saying the bill allowed flexibility if it was impossible
to ascertain Pakistan’s actions.
“Contrary to what some have said, these are not ‘rigid’ or
‘inflexible’ conditions,” Berman said.
He said the bill would “strengthen the critical US-Pakistan
relationship and support US national security objectives in South
Asia.”
John Kerry, who heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said
earlier this month after meeting Zardari that the two chambers of
Congress would finalise the bill quickly.
The United States on Tuesday offered a separate 110 million dollars
in emergency aid to Pakistan to help civilians fleeing a major
military offensive against militants.
The Nation:May 22,2009 |
