WASHINGTON, July 17: The US House of Representatives has voted to add conditions to the aid package for Pakistan, asking President Bush to report “on the state of terrorist camps” in Pakistan and on the measures Islamabad has taken to stop cross-border infiltration.

The amendment, offered by a pro-Indian congressman, Eni Faleomavaega, was accepted by a vote of 382 to 42 on Wednesday. The amendment is part of the Foreign Aid Authorisation bill but the Senate must still vote on it before it becomes law.

Though a non-voting member from America Samoa, Mr Faleomavaega has recently played a key role in initiating anti-Pakistan moves in Congress.

His latest move seeks to assure New Delhi that the US aid to Pakistan will continue only if Islamabad sticks to its pledge of cooperating in global anti-terrorism efforts, nuclear non-proliferation and restoration of democracy in the country.

The co-chairman of the India Caucus, Democratic Congressman Joseph Crowly, said the Congress would keep a watch on the US aid to Pakistan.

The amendment moved by Mr Faleomavaega says the US President must inform the Congress to what extent Pakistan has “closed all known terrorist training camps operating in Pakistan and Pakistani-held Kashmir, established serious and identifiable measures to prohibit the infiltration across the Line of Control and ceased the transfer of weapons of mass destruction to any third country or terrorist organization.”

It is interesting to note that the draft identifies Azad Kashmir as “Pakistani-held” Kashmir, rather than the neutral term “Pakistani-administered” Kashmir used by the US administration.

The amendment enjoyed a bipartisan support “both from the Democratic and Republican parties” and comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to organize an international conference on Kashmir next week.