US approves bill of $1.5 bln non-military aid to Pakistan: The News

by Sami Abraham
WASHINGTON: The unanimous approval of Enhanced partnership with Pakistan act of 2009 (bill s-962) by the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, here on Tuesday, has brought Pakistan another step closer to receive the annual non-military economic assistance of $ 1.5 billion for next five years.

Senator John Kerry, Chairman of US Senate Foreign Relations Committee hailed the measure as a "strong bipartisan effort" to help people of Pakistan and said that anti-Taliban military offensive has given hope in the context of curbing militancy and fostering peace in the area. He said it is very critical that US provide required assistance to Pakistan, immediately, and millions of displaced people are brought back to their homes safely.

Senator Kerry and Senator Lugar also urged the US senate to pass the bill as soon as possible.

The US House of Representatives has already approved, last Thursday, a Bill HR1463 to tripple the developmental economic assistance to Pakistan (making it $ 1.5 billion annually) for the next five years. Though the US House dropped, controversial specific demands to access Dr A.Q. Khan and prevention of future terrorist attacks against India, it still puts it as a condition that Islamabad would have to provide “access to Pakistani nationals” connected to proliferation networks” and prevent future terrorists attacks into neighboring countries”.

The version approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as compared to the US House International relation committee, seems to be closer to the version supported by Pakistan. The language, in the bill, is less intrusive and does not micro-manage Pakistan. The bill is expected to be placed before the US senate for a vote within days.

Pakistan's ambassador to the United Staes Mr Hussain Haqqani also praised the the approval of S-962 by US Senate Foreign Relations Committee and said that any conditional aid to Pakistan will not send any positive signal to people of Pakistan . He said that the support of US Law makers was encouraging People and Government of Pakistan in meeting the challenges of fighting against the menace of terrorism.

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