Pakistan’s CSF linked with restoration of NATO supplies

The US Congress linked the provision of coalition support fund (CSF) to Pakistan with the restoration of NATO supply routes.
The Congress went to vote on the House Resolution 4310, known as the National Defense Authorization Bill 2013, and passed the amendments relating to additional limitations on security assistance to Pakistan with overwhelming majority, a private TV channel reported on Friday. The limitations were approved last week by the Armed services Committee of the Congress.
In the approved bill, the US defence secretary has been asked to submit a report in the Congress about any new mechanism adopted by Pakistan for the use of NATO supply routes, and the difference in cost incurred from last year. The CSF would not be released before such a report is furnished following the reopening of supply routes, as and when it happens.
The US defence secretary is also required to certify that Pakistan is supporting US counter-terrorism efforts against al Qaeda and the Haqqani network, as well as other domestic and foreign terrorist organisations (which have not been named in the draft). The bill also wants timely issuance of visas from Pakistan for the US officials involved in counterterrorism and assistance programnmes in Pakistan. Action against improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a long-standing demand of the US administration and lawmakers, besides prevention of proliferation of nuclear-related material is also required from Pakistan in the bill. Not more than 10 percent of the funds allocated to Pakistan could be disbursed before the submission of report by the defence secretary.
Other than supply routes, action against IEDs and Haqqani network, other conditions were in the bill during previous years as well for provision of CSF to Pakistan, which was first instituted in 2003. The said bill related to domestic military and defence-related expenditure as well as security assistance by the US to foreign countries, including Pakistan.
However, it was not all gloom for Pakistan during the House proceedings on the day, because another amendment (numbered 112485) in the same bill, proposed by House Oversights Committee Chairman Dana Rohrabacher regarding “a complete ban on availability of funds of all kinds for assistance to Pakistan” was rejected by the members.
In a recorded vote, only 84 members voted in favour of the Rohrabacher amendment, while 335 voted against it. It may be noted that Ambassador Sherry Rehman had remained engaged in some intense lobbying with Congress members to defeat the amendment proposed by Rohrabacher during the last few days.
The bill will now be tabled in Senate for voting. It requires presidential signatures after approval of Senate to become a piece of legislation. However, the White House has already raised objections to the bill, including the clauses against Pakistan and has also indicated to veto it, in case it reached that stage.