The US House of Representatives has voted to cut $ 650 million in military aid to Pakistan in the next fiscal year’s budget, beginning October 1, 2012. The legislative step is part of a whopping $608 billion American defense appropriations bill for the fiscal year 2013 and will have to be approved by Senate for it to become effective. The Capitol Hill move, coming weeks after a relative improvement in bilateral ties after the reopening of Pakistani supply routes, reflects the complexity of the relationship and House lawmakers’ mood. The issue was raised at the State Department briefing Thursday, where a spokesman said that since the legislative process was ongoing, he would not have any particular reaction to it.
The spokesman said the Administration continues to consult Congress in general but had no specific comment on the particular legislative process. “We, obviously, continue to support our Pakistani counterparts in key areas like counterterrorism,” Spokesman Patrick Ventrell said, when asked about the Obama Administration’s position on the issue. The amendment to slash aid was proposed by Congressman Ted Poe, a Republican and was passed on the floor in a voice vote. Initially, Poe had proposed to cut down the US aid by $1.3 billion, but he withdrew that amendment and agreed upon half the amount. “Pakistan seems to be the Benedict Arnold nation in the list of countries that we call allies,” Congressman Poe alleged.
Many Pakistani would probably be unware of this American General who went over to the enemy side and joined the British Forces to fight against his own country during American War of Independence. Bendict Arnold has become synonymous with treachery and treason.
Sheikh Siddeeque
USA
There is nothing that a common man is getting out of this aid. The average Pakistani is hardpressed and downtrodden. whatever aid comes either goes in the coffers of state functionaries or adjusted in the nefarious activities going on in the country.
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