US committee approves tying Pakistan aid to ‘cooperation’ in terror war

A key US Congressional Committee on Thursday overwhelmingly passed a bill that imposes conditions on Pakistan for receiving American economic and military aid which will depend on the action Islamabad takes against terrorists and the improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The Defence Authorization Act (NDAA) 2013, which determines the defence budget for the fiscal year of 2013, was approved by the powerful House Armed Services Committee Thursday morning following a marathon debate. The action clears the way for consideration of the bill by the full House, scheduled for next week. The legislation provides the necessary authorities and funding for America’s military. The overwhelming support to the Pakistan-related provision of the bill showed that it had bipartisan support.

“The bill places appropriate conditions on aid to Pakistan. It is imperative that Pakistan support our counterterrorism efforts and work to prevent the interdiction of improvised explosive devices to Afghanistan,” House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member, Adam Smith, said the
previous day.
The bill prohibits the preferential procurement of goods or services from Pakistan until Islamabad re-opens the crucial NATO supply routes to Afghanistan, which were closed in the aftermath of the death of 24 Pakistani soldiers on November 26 in a NATO cross border fire. It also seeks certification from the defence secretary that Pakistan is committed to supporting counterterrorism operations against al Qaeda, its associated movements, the Haqqani Network, and dismantling IED networks and interdicting precursor chemicals used in the manufacturing of IEDs, and preventing proliferation of nuclear-related material and expertise. It also requires from Pakistan the issuing of visas in a timely manner for US visitors engaged in counterterrorism efforts and assistance programmes in Pakistan.
The Act notes that the Taliban, Haqqanis, and associated insurgents continue to enjoy safe havens in Pakistan, but are unlikely to be capable of overthrowing the Afghan government unless the US withdraws forces precipitously from Afghanistan. The bill authorises $554 billion for national defence and $88.5 billion for Overseas Contingencies Operations. It is nearly $4 billion more than the president’s budget request. Meanwhile, a House of Representatives panel moved to cut $800 million that was requested for a special fund for training and equipping Pakistan’s military in counterinsurgency tactics. The move appears to reflect wariness on the part of lawmakers toward the government of Pakistan, which they said failed to find Osama bin Laden for years until the US military killed him a year ago. It however agreed to maintain aid to Israel and Egypt at the administration’s requests. Democratic Representative Jesse Jackson Jr accused Pakistan of “harbouring a fugitive” and likened the US-Pakistan relationship to a “bad marriage”. Given the animosity toward Pakistan, the $800 million request for counterinsurgency efforts was an easy target, although the measure would permit transfers from other accounts to make up for some or all of the shortfall.
“It is a difficult relationship,” said Rep Kay Granger, the foreign aid measure’s lead author. The measure also would boost funding to help Mexico and Colombia fight drug gangs. But lawmakers denied the administration’s request for $770 million to support political and economic reforms in the Middle East and North Africa in the aftermath of last year’s Arab Spring anti-government uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere.