Lahore: The USD 7.5 billion American
non-military aid to Pakistan for the next five years is linked
to Islamabad making significant efforts to prevent al Qaeda
and associated groups, the LeT and JeM, from using its
territory to launch attacks, the Punjab Governor said on Monday.
Salman Taseer said Pakistan would have to convince the
US that its territory is not being used for attacks against
the US or coalition forces in Afghanistan or for cross-border
attacks in neighbouring countries.
Clarifying ambiguities on the Kerry-Lugar bill at the
Governor's House here, Taseer said the other condition for
economic aid is that Pakistan should continue cooperating with
the US to dismantle networks related to acquisition of nuclear
weapon materials, including providing information or direct
access to Pakistani nationals associated with such networks.
"The security forces of Pakistan are not materially or
substantially subverting the political or judicial processes
of Pakistan," he said.
Taseer further said these conditions are in line with
Pakistan's declared national policy on such issues. "We are
against nuclear proliferation. We have made a commitment not
to allow our territory to be used for terrorism and we want to
remain on the path to democracy," he said.
The bill envisages the provision of 1.5 billion
dollars a year as economic assistance for Pakistan for a
period of five years. The aid could be extended for another
five years.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, October 05, 2009, 21:31