The United States on Friday said the defence bill authorisation of $700 million in counterinsurgency assistance for Pakistan is absolutely unconditional with its top official for the region Richard Holbrooke stressing that the legislation only places usual reporting requirements on the American Administration.
Holbrooke also hailed Pakistan's anti-terrorism resolve as the key South Asian country continued its determined military foray into tribal areas of South Waziristan despite facing an unprecedented spate of terrorist attacks. "This is a pro-Pakistan bill - there are no conditions on Pakistan - only reporting requirements on the executive branch, " the US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan said at a State Department briefing.
Holbrooke spoke a day after US Congress passed the massive $680 billion defence budget for the year 2010, also allowing counterterrorism aid for Pakistan. He made it clear that the defence bill is not similar to Kerry-Lugar Economic Assistance Act, some provisions of which led to a heated controversy in Pakistan earlier this month.
"It (Defence Bill) shows congressional view that Pakistan is a treasured friend of the United States." Under Pakistan Counterterrorism Capability Fund, Pakistan will be assisted in training of security forces including police and Frontier Corps as well but the US Administration would have to report to Congress that the security equipment given to Pakistan is being used for counterterrorism purposes only.
The defence bill has been sent to President Barack Obama for his signature. Commenting particularly on the Kerry-Lugar aid Bill, Holbrooke described it as a "great piece of legislation" with unanimous congressional support. He remarked it got caught up in domestic Pakistani politics. Holbrooke said as far as he is concerned the Kerry-Lugar Bill issue is over.
"I don't think the Kerry-Lugar Bill sparked anything (anti-Americanism) - it is a great piece of legislation - shepherded through Congress by Senator (John) Kerry who did a phenomenal job also in the two countries. "In the end, it (the bill) got caught up in domestic Pakistani politics which I don't want to comment on."
He said the Kerry-Lugar Bill was perhaps "misunderstood and perhaps inadequately explained." "As far as I'm concerned that issue is over," he added. "We are very impressed by Pakistan's resolve" to fight terrorism, Holbrooke said, highlighting the fact that Pakistan has deployed "so many troops" to fight the menace. The Pakistani leadership knows that their country has a lot of stakes in the battle against extremists, he stated. He said the recent attacks on government and military targets have not increased any concerns about nuclear safety.