Congress committee approves new curbs on Pakistan aid

The Armed Services Committee of the US Congress has approved the National Defense Authorization Act 2013 worth $642 billion, including new limitations on security assistance to Pakistan, on Thursday by a 56-5 majority vote.The bill includes military and defense-related assistance by the United States to foreign countries including Pakistan. It places some additional limitations on Pakistan for reimbursement of the counterinsurgency support funds. The resumption of NATO supply routes have been made part of the bill, in order to enable to US administration to release the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) to Pakistan.In the approved draft, The US Secretary of Defense has been asked to submit a report in the Congress about any new mechanism adopted by Pakistan for use of NATO supply routes and the difference in cost incurred from last year. Action against IEDs, a long-standing demand of the US administration and lawmakers, besides prevention of proliferation of nuclear-related material is also required from Pakistan in the bill.The US Secretary Defense is also required to certify that Pakistan is supporting US counter-terrorism efforts against Al Qaeda and Haqqani network, as well as other domestic and foreign terrorist organizations (which have not been named in the draft). The bill also wants timely issuance of visas from Pakistan for the US officials involved in counterterrorism and assistance programmes in Pakistan.Not more than 10 percent of the funds allocated to Pakistan could be disbursed before the submission of report by Secretary Defense. Other than supply routes, action against IEDs and Haqqani network, other conditions were in the bill during previous years as well for provision of coalition support fund (CSF) to Pakistan, which was first instituted in 2003.The bill places appropriate conditions on aid to Pakistan. It is imperative that Pakistan support our counterterrorism efforts and work to prevent the interdiction of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to Afghanistan, House Armed Services Committees Ranking Member, Adam Smith said during the hearing.The bill has recommended reduction in the overall security assistance to foreign countries by nine (09) percent, as part of the strategy to reduce Pentagon budget. The bill will now be tabled on the floor of Congress for voting next week. Congress has a Republican majority, which is in opposition in US at the moment. After Congress, it will be tabled in Senate, where Democrats are in majority.The bill only becomes law after it is approved by the Senate and signed by the US president. Other provisions related to sanctions against Iran, war operations in Afghanistan, additional funding for drone operations and placing a bar for transfer of detainees from Guantanamo to US are also part of the bill.- Contributed by Awais Saleem, Dunya News correspondent in Washington, DC