US lawmakers warn aid to Pakistan might be redirected to Mexico: Report
US lawmakers fear that the multi-million dollar aid could be exploited by Haqqani network.
In the fear that multi-million dollar aid given to Pakistan by the United States could be exploited by the Haqqani network, US lawmakers have moved a legislation in the Congress to divert the aid to the Mexican border.
Times of India reported on Friday that Congressman Michael McCaul introduced the legislation, co-sponsored by Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, among others.
The legislation would require the secretary of state to certify to the Congress that Pakistan is not funding or advising the Haqqani network.
The legislation says that otherwise the aid to Pakistan will be slashed and redirected toward combating Mexican drug lobby’s violence on the border that the US shares with Mexico.
McCaul said that this year the US Department of State is demanding $2.4 billion for civilian and security aid to Pakistan, “some of which could end up in the hands of the Haqqani network.”
He said, “When I met with President [Asif Ali] Zardari he expressed a commitment to eradicating the Haqqani terrorist network, but I am not convinced that he has enough control over his military and intelligence to follow through.”
A list of conditions had accompanied funds allocated for Pakistan, as the White House, Department of Defence and the State Department had revealed their budgets for the fiscal year 2013.
According to the conditions, the secretary of state must certify that Pakistan is cooperating with the US in counterterrorism efforts against the Quetta Shura, Haqqani Network, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, al Qaeda and other domestic and foreign terrorist organisations.
The White House had allocated $800 million for Pakistan’s Counterinsurgency Capability Fund (PCCF) in its budget, whereas the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) allocated $2.4 billion for Pakistan.
The budget had showed a decrease of $50 million in comparison with last year’s allocations for PCCF.
Times of India reported on Friday that Congressman Michael McCaul introduced the legislation, co-sponsored by Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, among others.
The legislation would require the secretary of state to certify to the Congress that Pakistan is not funding or advising the Haqqani network.
The legislation says that otherwise the aid to Pakistan will be slashed and redirected toward combating Mexican drug lobby’s violence on the border that the US shares with Mexico.
McCaul said that this year the US Department of State is demanding $2.4 billion for civilian and security aid to Pakistan, “some of which could end up in the hands of the Haqqani network.”
He said, “When I met with President [Asif Ali] Zardari he expressed a commitment to eradicating the Haqqani terrorist network, but I am not convinced that he has enough control over his military and intelligence to follow through.”
A list of conditions had accompanied funds allocated for Pakistan, as the White House, Department of Defence and the State Department had revealed their budgets for the fiscal year 2013.
According to the conditions, the secretary of state must certify that Pakistan is cooperating with the US in counterterrorism efforts against the Quetta Shura, Haqqani Network, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, al Qaeda and other domestic and foreign terrorist organisations.
The White House had allocated $800 million for Pakistan’s Counterinsurgency Capability Fund (PCCF) in its budget, whereas the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) allocated $2.4 billion for Pakistan.
The budget had showed a decrease of $50 million in comparison with last year’s allocations for PCCF.