US proposed law threatens to squeeze aid if NATO blockade continues
Bill also requires certification that Pakistan is taking appropriate actions against terrorists.
The key supply line at Torkham border was blocked by PTI since Nov 24 in protest against CIA-led drone campaign in tribal areas. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
WASHINGTON:
A proposed new US law threatens to squeeze aid to Pakistan if Nato supply routes are blocked or interrupted, Dawn News reported on Friday.
US National Defence Authorisation Bill of 2014 also requires a certification from US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel saying that Pakistan is taking appropriate actions against terrorists along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
The development came after Hagel visited Pakistan on December 9. It was reported that he had warned Pakistani leaders that if they did not resolve protests stalling some military shipments across the border into Afghanistan, it could be difficult to maintain political support in Washington for an aid programme that has sent billions of dollars to Islamabad.
The key supply line at Torkham border was blocked by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the ruling party in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, since November 24 in protest against the CIA-led drone campaign in the tribal areas.
The new US bill is already approved by the House of Representatives and it includes extending funding to Pakistan for supporting the war against terrorism but with certain changes.
The funding has been reduced from $1.65 billion in 2013 to $1.5bn in 2014 as stated in a section of the bill titled “Limitation on amounts available”.
The White House had stated in a statement that “the bill will … support (US) capacity building efforts with foreign military forces, and support contingency or stability operations.”
“It also says that no amounts authorised to be appropriated by this bill, and no amounts authorised to be appropriated for fiscal years before 2014 that remain available for obligation, may be used for reimbursing Pakistan, until the US secretary of defence certifies to the congressional defence committees,” Dawn News further reported.
The Foreign Office Spokesperson, however, stated on Friday that Pakistan "is in contact with the US and as of now there has been no decision regarding stopping aid to Pakistan," Express News reported.
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A proposed new US law threatens to squeeze aid to Pakistan if Nato supply routes are blocked or interrupted, Dawn News reported on Friday.
US National Defence Authorisation Bill of 2014 also requires a certification from US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel saying that Pakistan is taking appropriate actions against terrorists along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
The development came after Hagel visited Pakistan on December 9. It was reported that he had warned Pakistani leaders that if they did not resolve protests stalling some military shipments across the border into Afghanistan, it could be difficult to maintain political support in Washington for an aid programme that has sent billions of dollars to Islamabad.
The key supply line at Torkham border was blocked by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the ruling party in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, since November 24 in protest against the CIA-led drone campaign in the tribal areas.
The new US bill is already approved by the House of Representatives and it includes extending funding to Pakistan for supporting the war against terrorism but with certain changes.
The funding has been reduced from $1.65 billion in 2013 to $1.5bn in 2014 as stated in a section of the bill titled “Limitation on amounts available”.
The White House had stated in a statement that “the bill will … support (US) capacity building efforts with foreign military forces, and support contingency or stability operations.”
“It also says that no amounts authorised to be appropriated by this bill, and no amounts authorised to be appropriated for fiscal years before 2014 that remain available for obligation, may be used for reimbursing Pakistan, until the US secretary of defence certifies to the congressional defence committees,” Dawn News further reported.
The Foreign Office Spokesperson, however, stated on Friday that Pakistan "is in contact with the US and as of now there has been no decision regarding stopping aid to Pakistan," Express News reported.
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