A US congressional committee Wednesday approved an aid package for Pakistan but more political dealing was expected amid controversy over the conditions it imposes on Islamabad. The House Foreign Affairs Committee approved a plan to triple US aid to 1.5 billion dollars annually through the 2013 fiscal year, with a focus on development including improving education.
US President Barack Obama has endorsed plans to ramp up aid to Pakistan, hoping it will boost his administration's key goal of rooting out extremism both in the nuclear-armed Islamic nation and neighbouring Afghanistan. But lawmakers will still need to reach a compromise as a bill before the Senate would similarly step up assistance but without imposing the same level of conditions.
The House bill would require a detailed account of spending and seek proof that Pakistan is clamping down on al Qaeda and Taliban militants - including ending alleged support to extremists by rogue intelligence elements. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari's government has bristled at such conditions, saying they were politically unfeasible at a time that many in his country were already suspicious of US intentions.
Howard Berman, chairman of the House committee, rejected the criticism, saying the bill allowed flexibility if it was impossible to ascertain Pakistan's actions. "Contrary to what some have said, these are not 'rigid' or 'inflexible' conditions," Berman said. He said the bill would "strengthen the critical US-Pakistan relationship and support US national security objectives in South Asia."
John Kerry, who heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said earlier this month after meeting Zardari that the two chambers of Congress would finalise the bill quickly. The United States on Tuesday offered a separate 110 million dollars in emergency aid to Pakistan to help civilians fleeing a major military offensive against militants.
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