Tensions between Pakistan and the US have further escalated with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemning the conviction and 33 jail sentence of Dr Shakil Afridi stating that it had "no basis" and the doctor's fate was among "the many issues important to the US and the international community" that the US is discussing with Pakistan.
These remarks came subsequent to the Senate Appropriations Committee voting in favour of reducing assistance to Pakistan by 33 million dollars. The establishment is concerned over the inordinate delay in the release of funds under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) estimated at $2.9 billion. However, the US maintains that its auditors have to verify each and every item of the bills especially in light of the admission by former President Pervez Musharraf that Pakistan routinely diverted CSF funds from the war on terror for which they were specifically earmarked to our frontiers with India.
The Kerry-Lugar bill envisages the release of civilian assistance amounting to 1.5 billion dollars per annum for five years. However, a very small portion of this amount has found its way into Pakistan. The US is engaged in supporting the energy sector but insists on power sector reforms that the government is reluctant to undertake for political reasons.
The establishment is also keenly sensitive every time senior members of the Obama administration criticise Pakistan while on Indian soil with respect to apprehending the Mumbai attack suspects and urge it to do more in terms of the Taliban.
"Pak-US relations are very old and both have been reaching out to help each other in every testing time. But it seems that the Indian lobby in Washington is feeding their line, which is obvious in Secretary Clinton remarks in her recent visit to New Delhi," pointed out a senior security official while talking to this scribe on condition of anonymity. The official said during the ongoing dialogue with the US, the security establishment has forwarded its concerns to both Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Finance currently engaged in the talks with their US counterparts.
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