WASHINGTON, Feb 16: President George W. Bush has once again waived democracy-related restrictions on Pakistan, enabling the country to continue to receive US assistance.
In a waiver issued on Tuesday evening, Mr Bush certified that Pakistan qualified for a waiver of any provision of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2005.
This recently promulgated act prohibits direct US assistance to the government of any country whose duly elected head of government was deposed by decree or military coup.
In the waiver notification, Mr Bush observed that lifting the restriction would facilitate the transition to democratic rule in Pakistan. He also noted that the waiver is important to US efforts to respond to, deter, or prevent, acts of international terrorism.
"Accordingly, I hereby waive, with respect to Pakistan, any such provision," said Mr Bush. The notification sent to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice directs her to transmit this determination to the US Congress and to arrange for its publication in the Federal Register, which records all government decisions. The consolidated appropriations act 2005 packages together several legislative measures to promote democracy and prevent military take overs.
Pakistan is a key US ally in the war against terror and although last week, the State Department urged President Pervez Musharraf to give up his dual role in the government, it also made it clear that there were issues other than "his uniform" that were important for the development of a democratic culture in Pakistan.
The State Department also made it obvious that instead of supporting any move for a change of government in Islamabad at this stage, Washington is more interested in the 2007 elections.
The department said Washington would like those elections to be held under "international standards," ensuring "full participation" of all political parties. Two years ago, President Bush pledged a $3 billion aid package to Pakistan, divided evenly between military and development assistance.
Last week, while announcing his 2006 budget, Mr Bush allocated $6901 million for Pakistan. This includes $300 million for economic support fund; $300 million for foreign military financing; $40 million from international narcotics control and law enforcement fund; $29 million for development assistance; $20.5 million for child survival and health and $2.044 million from international military education and training fund. Under the multi-year Camp David package, the US pledged to provide $600 million to Pakistan every year.
