US House subcommittee mulls making aid for Pakistan subject to conditions
Draft bill proposes Clinton ensure Pakistan is cooperating and taking necessary actions against terror networks.
WASHINGTON:
The US House Appropriations subcommittee for State and Foreign Operations, on Tuesday, is mulling making economic and or security assistance for Pakistan subject cooperating certification from Secretary of State.
According to the draft of the fiscal year 2013 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, the House subcommittee has proposed that no assistance under the Economic Support Fund, International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement, Foreign Military Financing Program and the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund be released until the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton certifies such to the committee.
The Government of Pakistan, according to the draft bill, must co-operate with the US in counterterrorism efforts against the Haqqani Network, al Qaeda, Quetta Shura Taliban, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and other domestic and foreign terrorist organisations.
Additionally, Pakistan must also end support of such groups and “prevent them from basing and operating in Pakistan for carrying out cross border attacks into neighboring countries.” The draft bill adds that the US Secretary of State must also certify that Pakistan is not supporting terrorist activities against US or coalition forces in Afghanistan.
In another stipulation, the certification requires that Pakistan’s military and intelligence agencies are not “intervening extra-judicially into political and judicial processes in Pakistan.”
The draft bill, expected to be addressed in the subcommittee’s session on Wednesday, also calls for Pakistan to dismantle the IED networks, prevent proliferation of nuclear material, and give humanitarian organisations access to detainees, IDPs and those affected by the conflict.
The draft also calls for the Secretary of State will have to certify that Pakistan would issue visas in a timely manner to US visitors involved in counterterrorism or aid operations.
A press release on the subcommittee’s website says that the bill has slashed funding for the Global War on terror by $3 billion to $8.2 billion, which has reduced funding for programs in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Earlier on Monday, the chairman of the House Armed Services committee introduced a draft where he proposed making aid to Pakistan subject to reopening of the Nato supply routes, along with demonstrable cooperation and actions in other sectors.
The US House Appropriations subcommittee for State and Foreign Operations, on Tuesday, is mulling making economic and or security assistance for Pakistan subject cooperating certification from Secretary of State.
According to the draft of the fiscal year 2013 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, the House subcommittee has proposed that no assistance under the Economic Support Fund, International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement, Foreign Military Financing Program and the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund be released until the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton certifies such to the committee.
The Government of Pakistan, according to the draft bill, must co-operate with the US in counterterrorism efforts against the Haqqani Network, al Qaeda, Quetta Shura Taliban, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and other domestic and foreign terrorist organisations.
Additionally, Pakistan must also end support of such groups and “prevent them from basing and operating in Pakistan for carrying out cross border attacks into neighboring countries.” The draft bill adds that the US Secretary of State must also certify that Pakistan is not supporting terrorist activities against US or coalition forces in Afghanistan.
In another stipulation, the certification requires that Pakistan’s military and intelligence agencies are not “intervening extra-judicially into political and judicial processes in Pakistan.”
The draft bill, expected to be addressed in the subcommittee’s session on Wednesday, also calls for Pakistan to dismantle the IED networks, prevent proliferation of nuclear material, and give humanitarian organisations access to detainees, IDPs and those affected by the conflict.
The draft also calls for the Secretary of State will have to certify that Pakistan would issue visas in a timely manner to US visitors involved in counterterrorism or aid operations.
A press release on the subcommittee’s website says that the bill has slashed funding for the Global War on terror by $3 billion to $8.2 billion, which has reduced funding for programs in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Earlier on Monday, the chairman of the House Armed Services committee introduced a draft where he proposed making aid to Pakistan subject to reopening of the Nato supply routes, along with demonstrable cooperation and actions in other sectors.