US lawmaker threatens Senate over Pakistan aid

Says US should not give foreign aid to country whose government is torturing the man who helped kill Osama bin Laden.


Huma Imtiaz September 11, 2012

WASHINGTON: US Senator Rand Paul has threatened to hold up the business of the US Senate until his bill to block assistance to Pakistan over the matter of Dr Shakil Afridi's imprisonment is not brought forward to the Senate for a vote.

In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Senator Harry Reid, Senator Rand Paul says he is prepared to pursue "any and all means" to secure a vote on his bill immediately. His letter states that this may include objecting to other Senate business and recessing the Senate for the election.

The letter came after Fox News interviewed Dr Shakil Afridi, who helped the CIA in the quest to find Osama Bin Laden and verify his identity in Abbotabad through a fake vaccination scheme. The letter, penned by Senator Paul, is in response to Dr Afridi's claims that he was tortured by the Government of Pakistan.

According to a statement, Senator Paul said, "I will continue to work tirelessly to keep this issue front and center. America should not give foreign aid to a country whose government is torturing the man who helped us kill Osama bin Laden. We should not be giving foreign aid to any country that is not clearly our ally. This must end, and this week I will renew my push for a vote on this issue, including holding up Senate business to accomplish this goal."

Senator Paul, in his letter, said, "No foreign government as blatantly defiant of American priorities as Pakistan should benefit from billions upon billions of American taxpayer dollars. It is time for that practice to come to an end."

The text of his letter can be found here.

Correction: An earlier version of this article's headline incorrectly stated Lower House instead of US Senate. The error is regretted.

COMMENTS (48)

M.Ahmer Ali | 11 years ago | Reply

@Ajay: "You mistakenly think that Pakistan can stand on its own feet when nothing works in Pakistan at people or system level. The problem is not just on foreign dependence or corruption but also in the mindset. In addition the society is deeply divisive and these things take years and years to mould" You may be rightful on your this stance but not completely because when we shall not have any chances,we shall not take solid practical steps and we shall not take full advantages from the available resources within Pakistan to stand on our own feet to get real,true and uninterrupted sovereignty we can't advance and develop and always we shall be US-aid's dependent.Because to get prosperity and sovereignty some solid and harsh steps have to be taken and when we shall not work hard and struggle honestly and sincerely and we shall not sacrifice our useless wishes and desires towards getting prosperity and sovereignty and always we would like to spend luxurious,kingly and lavish life we can't free ourselves from US' monopoly and here I agree with you "In addition the society is deeply divisive and these things take years and years to mould" and in reply I would write only these words that when we shall commence/start we shall get/reach the destinations/goals and when we shall not commence/start we can never get/reach the destinations/goals of prosperity and sovereignty and US-aid's dependence shall be only our fate........

Ajay | 11 years ago | Reply

@M.Ahmer Ali: You are asking for something without realizing what you are asking for. You mistakenly think that Pakistan can stand on its own feet when nothing works in Pakistan at people or system level. The problem is not just on foreign dependence or corruption but also in the mindset. In addition the society is deeply divisive and these things take years and years to mould; even more to rectify. If US stops aid, the Pakistan army will unravel, the corruption will increase, flight of whatever little capital remains in Pakistan will accelerate from fear of Pakistan imploding.

Think before you wish because you may get just that what you wish !!

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