Washington: A key US Senator and architect of the Congressional bill, which doles out USD 7.5 billion to Pakistan in the next five years, said that "no conditions" have been imposed on Islamabad in lieu of the non-military aid.
"There is no conditionality whatsoever in this
legislation (Kerry-Lugar bill) with respect to civilian
assistance and the economic assistance that is provided. No
conditionality. It is unfortunate the bill has been
characterised in some quarters in ways that are just not
accurate," Kerry said.
Kerry, Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Committee,
and its Ranking member Richard Lugar have authored a bill that
pledges USD 7.5 billion of civilian aid to Pakistan for the
next five years.
The bill passed by both the House of Representatives and
the Senate unanimously has been sent to the White House for
the US President Barack Obama to sign it into law.
"This bill should be seen as a real sign of friendship of
the American people towards people of Pakistan, not towards
the government specifically," Kerry told reporters at the
Capitol Hill yesterday after he and other members of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee met the visiting Pakistani
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
Qureshi and Lugar also addressed the press. "The United
States is pledging USD 7.5 billion to Pakistani people to spur
economic progress," Kerry said.
Denying media reports that the bill imposes conditions on
Pakistan to take action against terrorists in lieu of the aid,
the Senator said: "I want to emphasise again, there is no
conditions attached to USD 7.5 billion in non-military aid (to
Pakistan)."
However, Kerry said there are strict measures of
financial accountability that Congress "we as representative
of American people" are required and the US executive branch
is required to place. "That is simply to make sure that the
money is spent in the way that the American people sent it to
Pakistan."
Kerry said: "The conditions on military aid do not
require anything on Pakistan that is not already stated policy
of the government and the Opposition party. It is already
agreed upon. There is absolutely nothing on this bill related
to private security firms, drone attacks, or host of other
issues that are being tangled together by the press. There is
nothing in this bill that impinges on Pakistani sovereignty."
In his remarks, Qureshi commended the efforts of the US
Congress to pass the legislation, which he said was landmark
for the people of Pakistan and reflects the long term
commitment of the United States to his country.
"This USD 7.5 billion in economic assistance is free of
conditionality. Let the people of Pakistan know, it is free of
conditionality. There is no question of Pakistan sovereignty
being compromised. There is no question of a micro-management
from the US Senate or the US Administration," Qureshi said.
Terming the Kerry-Lugar bill as a new chapter in US-Pak
partnership, Qureshi said: "People of Pakistan would benefit
out of it."
During his three-day trip to Washington, Qureshi also met
members of the House Committee on Foreign Relations including
its Chairman Howard Berman.
Earlier in the day, Qureshi met the Special US
Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke.
"We are very pleased with the strong Pakistani actions in
the area of economy. These have made very positive impressions
here. We are very pleased that the Congress passed the
Kerry-Lugar bill with a unanimous and consent. It is a very
strong demonstration of Congressional support for the people
of Pakistan," Holbrooke said.
Noting that the legislation is an expression of the will
of the US Congress and the executive branch, Holbrooke said:
"This shows the Democrats, the Republicans, the Congress and
the White House are all on the same page in supporting
Pakistan."
Bureau Report
