WASHINGTON, July 27: The US Congress has passed a bill that ties US aid to Pakistan’s efforts to fight extremist groups operating from its territory. The Senate passed the bill on Thursday night by 85 to 8 votes. The House of Representatives is expected to send the bill to President Bush for signature by Saturday with its endorsement.
The restriction would take effect from Oct. 1, the start of the US budget year.
The legislation, which is tied to the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007, prohibits specified military assistance under the Arms Export Control Act and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to Pakistan until 15 days after the US president certifies that the Pakistani government is making all possible efforts to prevent the Taliban, al-Qaeda and other extremist groups from operating in areas under its sovereign control.
The legislation extends presidential authority to waive foreign assistance restrictions regarding Pakistan for 2007-2008. But it also says that requests for such extensions should be “informed by the pace of democratic reform, extension of the rule of law, and the conduct of parliamentary elections scheduled for 2007.”
All provisions in the bill are subject to a national security waiver, which would allow the president to waive the restrictions if he believes that it is in the US national interest to do so.
The bill also directs the US president to report to the appropriate committees on long-term US strategy relating to Pakistan.
Sec. 1442 of the bill declares that it is US policy to: (1) work with the Pakistani government to combat international terrorism; (2) establish a long-term strategic partnership with that government in addressing specified critical issues, including curbing the proliferation of nuclear weapons technology, combating poverty and corruption, and promoting democracy; (3) increase the funding for programs of the Agency for International Development and the State Department that assist the Pakistan government in addressing such issues if that government demonstrates a commitment to building a moderate, democratic state; and (4) work with the international community to secure additional financial and political support to implement policies set forth in this section and to resolve the dispute between the Pakistani and Indian governments over Kashmir.
The bill expresses the sense of Congress that the US national security interest will best be served if the United States implements a long-term strategy to improve the US relationship with Pakistan and works with its government to stop nuclear proliferation.
It also authorises appropriations for a variety of other assistance for Pakistan for the fiscal year 2008.
