Washington, July 01: Terming Pakistan as a "rogue nation" which has a "terrible record" in the arena of peace and stability in South Asia, democratic Congressman Frank Pallone has vehemently opposed any military aid to Islamabad and asked US President George W Bush to confine the aid package to economic assistance. "I respectfully urge you to limit the amount of assistance offered to Pakistan to solely economic aid, and to further impress upon Pakistan the importance of moving toward democracy and stopping cross border infiltrations," Pallone, also co-founder of Indian Caucus, said in a letter to Bush.
Pallone said though Pakistan has been an ally in US fight against terrorism, "the rogue nation in fact has a terrible record in the peace and stability arena in South Asia".
He said Pakistan is continuing cross-border terrorism against India, harbors active members of the Taliban and provides uranium-enriched equipment to North Korea's clandestine nuclear program, adding "I can only support economic aid to Pakistan under current circumstances".
Expressing concern over the proposed $3 billion aid package to Pakistan, half of it in military aid, he vowed to oppose the proposal when it comes for Congressional vote, if changes are not made in it.
Bureau Report