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US lawmaker seeks aid review for Pakistan
WASHINGTON: US lawmakers expressing their concerns if Pakistan knew about Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbotabad called to review aid policy.In floor speeches, congressional hearings and comments off the floor, lawmakers challenged whether the US should continue military and economic assistance to Pakistan.
Senator Carl Levin of Michigan said, "The American people provided billions of dollars of aid to the Pakistani government deserve to know whether elements of Pakistan's military and intelligence services or local officials knew of bin Laden's location over the five years or so he was there - and if they did not know, how that could possibly be the case."
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D) of New Jersey called for suspending US aid immediately. "Before we send another dime, we need to know whether Pakistan truly stands with us in the fight against terrorism," he said in a statement on Monday.
Rep. Ted Poe (R) of Texas is proposing legislation that would cut off future aid unless the US State Department certifies that Pakistan was not "providing sanctuary" to bin Laden. The Obama administration is requesting $3 billion in foreign aid to Pakistan in fiscal year 2012, along with $2.3 billion in funding to boost that nation's counterterrorism capacity.
Sen. Harry Reid said that thousands of Pakistani security troops rendered their sacrifices in war on terror, adding that it would be premature to suspend the aid.
Courtesy www.geo.tv