Washington: The US cannot let the Taliban overrun Pakistan but the militancy-infested country has to meet certain standards and expectations in lieu of the massive USD 7.5 billion in aid being given to it under the Kerry-Lugar bill, a top American Senator has said.
"We are actually in the mood of helping Pakistan because it`s a nuclear power; they`re allies; we want to make sure that they`re solid. We know that they`re being attacked by the Taliban," Congressman Orrin Hatch, a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, told MSNBC.
"The Taliban`s a vicious, awful organisation, and we just can`t let them overrun Pakistan. If we did, the whole world would be unsettled," he said.
When asked about the civilian aid to be given to Pakistan through the Kerry-Lugar bill which has been signed into law, Hatch, who also serves on the Senate Health and Intelligence Committees, said there is no question that the United States needs to help Islamabad.
"You know, we don`t just give away seven billion bucks or thereabouts without some sort of -- some sort of expectations that -- you know, that they have to live up to certain standards," the Republican Senator said. Senator Hatch said there is no doubt that the Taliban is trying to hurt Pakistan.
"But what is interesting is the Pakistanis are now starting to go after the Taliban. They`re even going into South Waziristan, something we couldn`t get them to do a few years ago or even a year ago," he said.
Stating that the Taliban are a tough, rugged bunch of people who are up to destroy the Pakistani and Afghan regimes, the Senator added that "I think Pakistanis can handle them, but they`re going to have to be very, very careful to do so.”
"And we just can`t back off and let them take over Pakistan, with the nuclear arms that Pakistan has."
Observing that it is a very complicated matter, Hatch said: "I think we`ve got to handle it just exactly right."
Bureau Report
