US Congress seeks to block $450 mn aid to Pakistan

Wednesday 11th May 2016 06:03 EDT
 

WASHINGTON: The US Congress has put in a move to block $450 million in aid to Pakistan for failing to “demonstrate its commitment” and taking action against the Haqqani terror network. The provision in the National Defence Authorisation Act for the year 2017, if passed, would block the US government aid.

As per NDAA 2017, passed by the House Armed Services Committee last week, of the total amount of reimbursement and support authorised for Pakistan during the period beginning on October 1, 2016, and ending on December 31, 2017, $450 million would not be eligible for a national security waiver unless the secretary of defence certifies that Pakistan continues to conduct military operations against the Haqqani network in North Waziristan. The defence secretary also needs to certify that Pakistan is demonstrating commitment to prevent the guerilla group from using the region as a safe haven and is actively coordinating with Afghanistan to restrict their movement.

The House Armed Services Committee says that it will continue to review the reimbursements made to Pakistan and how it complies with the future of US policy, including key counter-terrorism and security objectives in the region. It also asked the secretary of defence to notify congressional defence committees prior to making any reimbursement to Pakistan for any logistical, military or other support. It also extended the requirement for the secretary if defense to certify, prior to making any reimbursement to Pakistan, that the country is maintaining security along the Ground Lines of Communictions, taking demonstrable steps to support counter-terrorism operations, disrupting cross border attacks and countering the threat of improvised explosive devices.

The move comes just days after the US told Pakistan to put forward its national funds to buy eight F-16s worth $700 million after some top Senators put a hold on the use of American tax payers' money to partially finance them. Special US representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Olson, said that the Obama administration has $742.2 million in American aid to Pakistan for the fiscal year 2017, including $472.4 million in civilian assistance and USD 269.8 million in security assistance. “This request strikes the appropriate balance between long-term development and strategic military-to-military cooperation, both of which are in our national security interest, and is at a level that we can responsibly implement,” Olson said. “This request is considerably lower - indeed, over 60 per cent lower - than our peak funding for Pakistan in FY 2010, the first year under the Kerry-Lugar-Berman authorisation.”


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