The Bush administration is confident of unhindered supply of security assistance to Pakistan and has made it clear that the new Congressional restriction on a portion of annual counter-terrorism aid does not in any way affect the top South Asian ally's purchase of F-16 fighter jets.
Senior administration officials this week noted Pakistan's continued counter-terrorism efforts along Afghan border areas as well as steps that President Musharraf has taken towards democratic transition in two areas the Congress wants a report on before release of a $50 million tranche of US assistance sometime in 2008.
Richard Boucher, the top US official for South Asia, clarified that under the new Congressional legislation, the release of a $50 million out of a total of $300 million counter-terrorism aid is not subject to certification but a report by the Secretary of State on the country's success in the war on terror and democratic development.
"We are confident that we will be able to report to Congress on the developments in the areas that they have identified," he told reporters after Congress sent a measure containing the relevant provisions to White House for President George Bush's signature.
Boucher, who is Assistant Secretary of Sate for South Asia, quashed notions of any link between the new Capitol Hill measure and the delivery of US F-16 fighter planes to Pakistan.
"This does not affect the F-16 program. The F-16 program is a Pakistani purchase, their money, they're buying them. And our foreign military finance, our military assistance goes for different purposes.
"So they will be able to continue that and we will be able to continue our efforts - so they can do the fight against terrorism that they are in", he added.
In terms of the use of the money, Boucher explained the administration has used it for foreign military financing and it is very much part of the counter-terrorism effort.
"It goes to TOW missiles. It goes to tactical radios that their forces can use to plan military operations. And it goes to support the program for P-3C aircraft that help them do maritime patrols."
Pakistan is currently, for the second time, in command of the Combined Task Force 150 that patrols the seas off Pakistan and the Arabian Gulf to prevent terrorist activities on the high seas.
"And the P-3 program is a complement to that, so they can work better with us and others in protecting their neighbourhood from threats of terrorism on the high seas. So, in a variety of different ways, our military programs serve to support their capability," he added.
Pakistan, a key war on terror ally, is due to receive $785 million ($350 million in economic and $300 in security fields) assistance through the fiscal 2008. A major part of security assistance - $250 million would be available immediately for the financial year that began on October 1, 2007.
Boucher acknowledged Pakistan's continued counter-terrorism efforts and welcoming the recent steps said Washington supports holding free and fair parliamentary elections in the country.
He said a number of observers will be travelling to Pakistan to witness the January 8 polls. President Pervez Musharraf has vowed to hold transparent and fair polls and took important steps recently towards Pakistan's democratic transition, including his relinquishing the post of army chief, restoring the Constitution and lifting the November 3 state of Emergency, which Boucher described as a "very big step."
Pakistan maintains around 100,000 security forces along its border with Afghanistan and has captured hundreds of Taliban and al Qaeda operatives. Islamabad strongly opposes any restrictions on provision of US assistance, saying such measures could be counter-productive to bilateral ties.
The US assistance is part of the five-year three billion dollars package for Pakistan, agreed between the two countries during President Pervez Musharraf's talks with President George Bush in 2003.
In response to a question, Boucher disagreed with a suggestion that during the emergency rule, the country lost ground to militants as he cited the success of a major counter-terrorism operation in Swat valley, stating that a lot of militants were eliminated and a radio station run by them was shut down.
However, he added, the country needs both democratic transition and the fight against extremism to establish a very solid basis for Pakistan as a moderate nation and society.