US Congress makes conditions of American aid to Pakistan stringent

All military aide and coalition support funds will now be subject to separate certifications by the Secretary of State and Defence Secretary

US Congress has made conditions of American aid to Pakistan stringent as compared to previous years by making such funds subject to separate certifications by Secretary of State and Defence Secretary.

As per the text of the bill released by the Congressional leaders yesterday, all military aide and coalition support fund to Pakistan is subject to separate certifications by the Secretary of State and Defence Secretary.

Both Secretary of State and Defence Secretary, as per the bill, need to certify the Pakistan Government is cooperating with the US in counterterrorism efforts against the Haqqani Network, the Quetta Shura Taliban, LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammed, al- Qaeda and other domestic and foreign terror groups.

They also need to certify that Pakistan is taking steps to end support for such groups and prevent them from basing and operating in Pakistan and carrying out cross border attacks into neighbouring countries.

The bill does not specifically mention any country. However, India and Afghanistan have accused Pakistan of having terrorist safe havens that indulge in cross border terrorism.

The two Secretaries also required to certify that Pakistan is not supporting terrorist activities against the US or coalition forces in Afghanistan, and Pakistan's military and intelligence agencies are not intervening extra-judicially into political and judicial processes in Pakistan.

The spending bill requires the secretaries to certify that Pakistan is taking steps to prevent the proliferation of nuclear-related material and expertise; is implementing policies to protect judicial independence and due process of law, and is issuing visas in a timely manner for US States visitors engaged in counterterrorism efforts and assistance programs in Pakistan.

The Secretary of Defence and Secretary of State, in consultation with each other, may waive the restriction on a case-by-case basis by certifying in writing to the congressional defence committees that it is in the national security interest to do so, the bill said.

However, the spending bill withholds $33 million in financial assistance to Pakistan until Dr Shakil Afridi is released from prison and cleared of all charges. Afridi is said to have helped the CIA in finding Osama bin Laden.

The Secretary of State is required to submit a six monthly report to the Congress in this regard and he should suspend assistance to Pakistan if any report indicates that Pakistan is failing to make measurable progress in meeting such goals or benchmarks, the bill added.